Mike O’Brien was born in Australia and moved to Europe with his family in the early seventies. After a five year career as a singer songwriter, he moved into a live music management company, and in the mid-eighties, worked in corporate sponsorship for live music acts.

After a chance meeting with Talkback co founder Pete Brown, and after introducing Pete to Colin Collino (who owned a cassette manufacturing business) the three launched Laughing Stock Productions, a comedy record label, in 1991.

Mike was responsible for all the business affairs and licensing / production agreements and IP negotiations, before moving into full audio and dvd production for the label.