Executive Chat

Featuring Mike Schall, Managing Director of FocalPoint Partners

by Rebecca Patt, Senior Vice President of Development, Wray Executive Search

Mike Schall is a CPG food industry veteran leader who joined the F&B investment banking sector in 2020 with FocalPoint Partners . FocalPoint is an independent investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, private placements, financial restructurings, and special situation transactions, with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Shanghai. Previously, he spent ten years with Whole Foods Market as a product development advisor and then team member, where he led the innovative plant-based Engine 2 Plant-Strong brand and then became Senior Principal of Global Growth and Business Development. Mike grew up in the restaurant business and has been a C-level leader and board member across multiple segments of the CPG food business for over than 30 years. I spoke with Mike on March 13, 2020.

Mike, this interview finds us in a global crisis. I would like to address current events and how they are impacting you, your community, and your business.

The last several weeks, and most importantly the last week, has been very tumultuous and very turbulent for life in general, and the speed at which information or misinformation is guiding consumer decisions, specifically how and where we go, what we eat and what we touch is really impacting our world like never before.