CriticalPoint Expands Food & Beverage Investment Banking Capabilities with Addition of Kevin O’Brien as Managing Director

July 21, 2026-CriticalPoint, a trusted platform of tailored financial solutions combining the best of Investment Banking and Private Capital, today announced the addition of Kevin O'Brien as Managing Director, expanding the firm's coverage of the food and beverage sector. Based in Portland, Mr. O'Brien will focus on advising founders, family-owned businesses, private equity firms, and strategic buyers on growth, financing, and M&A opportunities across the food and beverage landscape. He brings more than 20 years of experience advising CPG businesses ranging from start-ups to companies exceeding $250 million in annual revenue.

Mr. O'Brien's career has been dedicated to serving the CPG industry, with particular expertise across the broader beverage channel, including producers of coffee and tea, functional beverages, wine, beer, and distilled spirits. His accounting and finance foundation, combined with experience as an M&A advisor, board advisor, contract CFO, private equity investor, and auditor, gives him a distinctive, operator-informed understanding of the businesses he serves.

"Kevin combines deep food and beverage expertise with a practical understanding of the founder and family-owned business journey," said Matt Young, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at CriticalPoint. "He understands the unique opportunities and challenges these owners face because he's spent his career advising them through pivotal moments. That experience, combined with his strong relationships across the beverage industry, makes him an outstanding addition to our team and further strengthens our ability to serve consumer clients."

Prior to joining CriticalPoint, Mr. O'Brien served as Managing Director of Middle Market M&A at BMO Capital Markets, a division of Bank of Montreal. Prior to his firm's acquisition by BMO, Mr. O'Brien was a partner at Zepponi & Company, a beverage alcohol-focused M&A firm. Mr. O'Brien began his career at PwC as part of their audit and advisory groups.

A recognized voice in the beverage industry, Mr. O'Brien has presented on accounting and finance topics at the Wine & Spirits Daily Summit, the American Craft Spirits Association Convention, the Craft Brewers Conference, and the Oregon Wine Symposium. He has served as an Adjunct Professor in Sonoma State University's Executive MBA Program, currently serves on the boards of several local organizations, and was named one of the Portland Business Journal's "Forty Under 40." Mr. O'Brien earned his bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Portland and holds a CPA license as well as Series 63 and 79 licenses.

"It's with great pleasure that I am joining CriticalPoint. The firm is at an exciting juncture in its growth trajectory and provides a dynamic platform to serve our clients' needs. The firm's integrated service offerings, including buy-side and sell-side M&A expertise, valuations, strong sponsor and strategic relationships, and capital raising capabilities, creates a compelling opportunity to deliver differentiated outcomes for our food and beverage clients. I look forward to bringing my extensive experience in the industry to better serve my clients now and into the future," said Mr. O'Brien.

To learn more about CriticalPoint's Food & Beverage Investment Banking practice, please contact:

Kevin O'Brien
Managing Director, Food & Beverage
Direct: (415) 516-3405
[email protected]

About CriticalPoint
CriticalPoint provides tailored financial solutions through a trusted platform, combining the best of Investment Banking and Private Capital. Backed by decades of diverse transaction experience, the CriticalPoint team delivers the insights clients and stakeholders need to achieve superior outcomes. Founded in 2012 by senior M&A professionals with a passion for deal-making, CriticalPoint stands out for its deep expertise in Investment Banking-including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, deal sourcing, special situations, and valuation advisory-as well as in Private Capital investing, with a focus on corporate divestitures and special situations. When business owners, management teams, private equity firms, and corporate sellers reach a defining moment across a range of industries, they rely on CriticalPoint's proven expertise. For more information, visit criticalpoint.com.

Registered Representative of, and Securities Products are offered through CriticalPoint Partners, LLC Member FINRA SIPC.