Australian businessman, media buyer, philanthropist and humanitarian Harold Mitchell died on Saturday, 10th of February 2024, at the age of 81.
Mitchell was a major promoter of Australia overseas, such as in bringing Australian Indigenous art to millions worldwide.
Harold Mitchell was born in Trafalgar, Victoria on 13 May 1942, one of four children. By the time Harold was 16, the single-parent family was living in Stawell, Victoria.
He left school early and worked in the local sawmill for some months and then went to work for an advertising agency in Melbourne, a city he had only ever visited once. He studied part-time at RMIT.
Mitchell became a successful media buyer, founded his own company, and led the development of the media buying industry in Australia.
Mitchell was the Executive Chairman of the Mitchell Communication Group and Executive Chairman, Aegis Media Pacific, part of the Aegis Group. He was also involved in Television Sydney.
In 2000, he created the Harold Mitchell Foundation, which donates money to various causes promoting community health and the arts.
Mitchell was the chairman or board member of various organisations including the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the New York Philharmonic, the National Gallery of Australia, the Museum Board of Victoria, Opera Australia, CARE Australia, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tennis Australia, the Deakin Foundation, the Melbourne International Festival of Arts, and the Australia-Indonesia Centre.