MICHAEL SALERNO

Michael Salerno’s career experience has touched law, sports, entertainment and investment. A graduate of Amherst College, where he captained the football and national championship basketball team, he went on to play professional football in Europe before earning his law degree at the Connecticut School of Law.

Salerno began his career as a criminal defense litigator, later transitioning to entertainment law at Leftfield Entertainment. When the founder, Brent Montgomery, sold the business in 2014, Salerno left to help launch the Montgomery family office, Third Rail Management. There he provided legal, operational and business support to the family, including managing its direct investment efforts with a portfolio that included Athletes First, Athletic Brewing Company, Goldin Actions, Pair Eyewear, Premier Lacrosse League and Rhone.

As a founding member of Wheelhouse, the media, marketing, and talent management platform launched in 2018, Salerno provided legal and business development support. 

In 2023, Wheelhouse spun out its consumer growth equity efforts to launch Wheelhouse 360 and raise its debut fund. Currently, Salerno manages the fund and is involved with sourcing new investment opportunities, executing due diligence, marketing and fundraising, portfolio company support and day to day operations of the fund. Select portfolio companies of Wheelhouse 360 include Bobbie, Dagne Dover, Homage, Momentous, Ozlo Sleep, Ritual, and Xochitl.