S6E4: Michael Meade - From Banking to Brewing
Michael Meade spent over 20 years on Wall Street and then stepped away from the pressured world of high finance to do something totally different. Some, in his circumstances, may have opted for plenty of time on the golf course and cracking open a few brews, that’s not the kind of person Michael Meade is.
Intrigued by a visit to Ireland, Michael wanted to build a business that would connect to his Irish roots, work with a famous brewing dynasty, revive Ireland's oldest brewing brand and return beer making to Kilkenny, the home of red ale.
It has, and will continue to be, a journey for a son of Buffalo, one of America's most Irish of towns. Michael's partnership with the Smithwick family, the revival of Sullivan's Brewing in Kilkenny, an award winning beer developed by brewmaster Ian Hamilton, is a tale of both passion and the value in building a great team, that combination just might yield Ireland's next great export company.
Michael Meade's Links
Sullivans Brewing Company
00:00 - Introduction
03:16 - Buffalo Origins
10:58 - From Buffalo to Banking
16:03 - From Banking to Brewing
17:38 - Kilkenny Brewing Story
25:44 - Understanding Beer
30:41 - Winning the Oscars of the Beer World
32:28 - Growth Plans for Sullivan's Brewing
38:08 - Standing Out in a Competitive Been Market
40:20 - Sullivan's New Kilkenny Brewery
44:37 - Tasting Sullivan's Maltings Red Ale
49:43 - Becoming Cicerone Educated
51:49 - Seamus Plug
54:19 - John and Martin Recap
55:59 - Credits
Michael Meade
CEO
Michael Meade is the Group CEO of Sullivan’s Brewing Company. Michael is also the Founder and Co-Managing Partner of 1702 Irish Ales Group LLC, a vehicle which was formed to provide Sullivan’s Brewing Company with its initial seed capital as well as additional ongoing investment. Recently Michael co-founded and is Co-Managing Partner of Foraging Partners LLC, an entity for investing in start-up and early-stage companies. Michael spent twenty-five years on Wall Street, the first half of which was in Institutional Fixed Income roles across the spectrum of credit products at Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley, primarily covering central banks, asset managers, public pensions, and state treasury clients. Ultimately, Michael held Managing Director positions in Equity Finance at both Morgan Stanley and Citi, with his primary focus being on the hedge fund client base. Michael earned his double major in Political Science (elected to Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society) and Spanish Studies at Fordham University in the Bronx.
Listen On