Gary S. Matthews is the Chairman of the the board of directors of Boxed. Prior to the business combination, Mr. Matthews served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Seven Oaks. Mr. Matthews has over 30 years of experience as both an institutional investor and a senior executive of multiple businesses across a broad range of industries. From March 2019 to August 2020 Mr. Matthews served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of IES Holdings (NASDAQ: IESC), over which time both EBITDA and the company’s stock price increased significantly. Prior to joining IES, Mr. Matthews served as Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners from 2007 to 2019 where he co-led direct investments and helped to oversee the management and strategies for those businesses. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he led several private equity-backed manufacturing companies in senior management positions. From 2006 to 2007, he served as President of Simmons Bedding Company overseeing operations in the US and Canada. Mr. Matthews also previously served as Chief Executive Officer of sponsor-owned Sleep Innovations, Inc. and of Derby Cycle Corporation. Previously, Mr. Matthews served as President of Worldwide Consumer Medicines and Specialty Pharmaceuticals at Bristol-Myers Squibb. He also served as President of the Guinness Import Company and Managing Director of Guinness in Great Britain. Prior to joining Guinness, Mr. Matthews served as a Director at PepsiCo and as a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. He has previously served as Chairman of the board of directors of Pathway Partners Veterinary Holding LLC, Hojeij Branded Foods, Creative Circle, LLC and Tops Markets, LLC, and as a member of the board of directors of Manna Pro Products, LLC, Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP), Lenox Group Inc. (previously Department 56, NYSE: DFS), Learning Care Group, Inc., Van Wagner, Inc., Lagunitas Brewing Company, and Canyon Ranch. Mr. Matthews received a B.A., Cum Laude, from Princeton University and a Masters in Business Administration with distinction from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Matthews has been involved in several philanthropic social organizations. He is on the Board of Let’s Get Ready and served as its Chairman for four years. Let’s Get Ready works with underprivileged high school seniors to tutor them for the SATs, provides college application assistance, and mentors at the college level to encourage these students to stay in and graduate college. Previously, Mr. Matthews served for 10 years on the Board of the Greenwich Library and was on the Board and served as Board Chair for Junior Achievement of SW Connecticut.