Patrick Walsh

Patrick Walsh is the Founder and Chief Executive at PW Partners, a value-oriented investment firm. He has a demonstrated history of success in the investment management and consumer industries. He is a seasoned CEO and strong operator skilled in Corporate Strategy, Capital Allocation, Corporate Finance, M&A, Hedge Funds, Investment Banking, and Equities. His investment and business accolades have been written about in Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, The New York Times, Restaurant News, and the Los Angeles Times.

Early Life and Education

He was born in San Diego, CA, where his father was a Naval Officer, and his mother was a school teacher. His family moved back to New England when he was two years old, and he was raised in Boston, MA.

Patrick attended Wesleyan University and studied Economics, where he was a two-sport athlete competing in Football and Baseball. After a career-ending back injury, he transferred to Boston College, graduating with honors and a degree in Accountancy.

 After graduation, he earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA), passing all three exam levels on his first attempt. He further enhanced his investment education by studying under Professor Greenwald at Columbia University’s Executive Value Investing Program. 

Workflow and Achievements

 His career began at Prudential Capital Group and Prudential Securities in 1998 as an investment analyst specializing in Commercial Real Estate and publicly traded REITs. He later served as a Vice President in the Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging, and Leisure Investment Banking Group at Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.  Before founding PW Partners, he was a Partner at a value-oriented Hedge Fund based in Chicago.

A Career That Touches Many Industries

Patrick Walsh CEO’s career is marked by an entrepreneurial spirit that led to his involvement in several industries outside Wall Street. He held positions on the board of directors of BJ’s Restaurants, Del Taco, Famous Dave’s of America, and Town Sports International. Each of these companies thrived after his involvement. In these roles, he demonstrated his investment acumen and business savvy by improving the performance of these Companies. His work at these establishments brought him numerous awards and recognitions, including being named one of the 50 most influential people in the restaurant industry by Restaurant News in 2015.

Entrepreneur of the Year

In 2018, Ernst and Young named Walsh Entrepreneur of The Year in New York. He has played a significant role in several business turnarounds, but none were as remarkable as Town Sports. He faced imminent bankruptcy in the first year he took over management of the Company in 2016. During a period when the majority of industry experts predicted bankruptcy or distressed sales, he vowed to TSI shareholders that he would turn around and save the business. 2018, after two years of strategic and operational improvements, the company’s stock traded over $14 per share, an increase of more than 1,000% from a low of 92 cents in 2016. Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation, and discipline have driven their companies’ success and positively impacted their communities. The program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Pierre Omidyar of eBay, and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com.

Hobbies and Interests

Given Patrick Walsh CEO’s demanding career, one might think he needs more time for hobbies. However, outside investing, building, and managing companies, he is an avid reader who appreciates literature on various topics. He also enjoys fitness activities, cooking, and traveling.

More from Patrick Walsh:

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. Engages PW Partners to Provide Cost Structure Recommendations