Patrick Walsh (investor)
Patrick Walsh | |
|---|---|
 Patrick Walsh the 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award winner in the New York region. | |
| Born | December 26, 1975 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Boston College (BA in Accounting) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investor |
Patrick Walsh (born December 26, 1975) is an American entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and CEO of PW Partners, LLC, an investment management firm.
Early life and education
[edit]Walsh was born in San Diego, California, to a US Navy officer and a teacher. He initially attended Wesleyan University, studying Economics and participating as a dual-sport athlete in football and baseball. After an injury ended his sports career, he transferred to Boston College and graduated with a degree in accounting in 1998. After graduation, he earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He completed Columbia University’s Executive Value Investing Program in 2004.[1]
Early business career
[edit]Walsh worked from 1998 to 2004 at Prudential Capital Group and Prudential Securities in real estate private equity and equity research; from 2004 to 2008 at Deutsche Bank as an investment banker and at Oak Street Capital, a private hedge fund based in Chicago from 2008 to 2011.[1][2][3][4]
In 2012, Walsh founded PW Partners, LLC, an investment management firm.[5][6][7] A 2014 article in Restaurant Finance Monitor stated that "each of the chains with which he has become involved has thrived on Wall Street in his wake."[8] Walsh was a member of BJ’s Restaurants' board from 2014 to 2022 and has also served on the boards of Del Taco and Famous Dave’s.[9][10]
In 2018 Walsh won the New York region of the 2018 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[11][12]
Town Sports International Holdings
[edit]In September 2016 Walsh became Chief Executive Officer of Town Sports International Holdings, operator of gyms under several brands including New York Sports Clubs. [13]
Town Sports International made several acquisitions during Walsh's tenure, including in September 2017 acquiring the Lucille Roberts brand, an all woman's fitness chain. [14] In December 2017, Town acquired the luxury brand TMPL [15] and in early 2018 the Company acquired Total Woman, an all women's fitness chain based in California. [16] Since taking over as CEO Walsh has overseen acquisitions of more than 30 clubs. [17]
As of 2022, Walsh had left the restructured company (now called New York Sports Clubs), which had closed or sold 117 clubs after its 2020 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.[18]
Later Career
[edit]In 2022, Walsh was revealed as a major investor in former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social. [19]
As of 2024, Walsh is the CEO of Empire Group Investments, which operates gyms under the TMPL, Palm Beach Sports Club, and LIV brands. [20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Gara, Antoine. "Meet Patrick Walsh, The Do-It-Yourself Hedge Fund Activist You've Never Heard Of". Forbes. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ "Patrick Walsh CEO - Chief Executive Officer - Empire Holdings and Investments, LLC". Cake. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Patrick Walsh: Positions, Relations and Network - MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Patrick Walsh - PW Partners, LLC | LinkedIn".
- ^ Partners, Patrick Walsh CEOPW; LLCFounder; CEO; PartnerJupiter, Managing. "Patrick Walsh CEO - Founder, CEO & Managing Partner - PW Partners, LLC". XING. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Famous Dave's attracts attention of activist investor". www.nrn.com. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Famous Dave's to add activist investor to its board". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Activist Bug Bites BJ's Restaurants - Restaurant Industry Insight and Analysis - March 2014". www.restfinance.com. 6 March 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
- ^ "BJ's agrees to listen to another activist investor". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "BJ's Restaurants, Inc. Engages PW Partners to Provide Cost Structure Recommendations". investors.bjsrestaurants.com. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Meet the 2018 Finalists".
- ^ EY. "EY Announces Winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 New York Award". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ "Town Sports Names Patrick Walsh CEO, Consolidates COO Role | American Spa". 22 September 2016.
- ^ http://www.clubindustry.com/news/town-sports-international-acquire-lucille-roberts-health-club-business.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://cheddar.com/videos/building-a-tmpl-to-fitness-with-town-sports-international.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rlh-equity-partners-portfolio-company-total-woman-acquired-by-town-sports-international-300631093.html.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Town Sports International Reports $8 Million Increase in Q1 2018 Revenue | American Spa". May 2018.
- ^ Kufahl, Pamela; Director, Content (25 January 2022). "New York Sports Clubs Works to Regain Trust One Day at a Time". American Spa. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Trump’s Truth Social. "Who Funded Trump's Truth Social?". reuters.com. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ "Truth Social Backer Furious the Gym He Owns Smells Like Poop". The Daily Beast. 6 March 2024.