Michael O'Brien

I’m Highwire PR’s CEO and a proud practitioner of the craft that is reputation management and brand communications.

5 questions with Highwire's Chief Executive Officer

With over 30 years of experience guiding iconic global brands, he’s passionate about driving growth, innovation, and impactful solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses.

What’s the one thing you really enjoy doing?

I enjoy sitting in my backyard on a Friday night with a cocktail, listening to music and letting the week wash away.

What did you do prior to Highwire?

I was briefly the CEO of of 5WPR and prior to that spend many years as the Chief Client Officer and Head of Strategy for Ketchum.

What’s your area of interest and expertise?

Corporate reputation counsel and strategy is my bread and butter today, though I spent many years in brand marketing communication. I’m an old school generalist as it relates to industry categories, with a concentration in financial services and consumer technology.

What work makes you most proud?

Seeing my children find happiness and thrive. A distant second is seeing my teams win on behalf of our clients.

What I’m doing when I’m not working…

I’m active playing and watching sports, I golf frequently. I love live music and see shows as often as possible. Beach season is upon us where I live, I’ll be in a sand chair, under and umbrella, soaked in SPF 1000.

Where the rubber meets the road

Everyone at Highwire is hands-on with client work and the principals are no exception. Some of the brands Kathleen has worked with.

160+ thinkers and doers

Highwire’s team of skilled strategists excel at translating complex narratives into compelling stories. With hubs in San Francisco, New York, Boston and Chicago, our integrated PR, marketing and creative design teams provide global coverage and work with a worldwide network of trusted collaborators. When you partner with Highwire we make a commitment to your success,
creating enduring business value.