About Hanover Gate Capital

Hanover Gate Capital started in 2022 as a two person self-funded search fund partnership dedicated to acquiring and operating a single, high-quality business. After closing our first acquisition and completing a successful management transition in May 2025 we moved into a new search phase in pursuit of a second acquisition.

Our mission is to partner with business owners to ensure a smooth transition and continued growth, while preserving the legacy they have built.

We are experienced operators and are backed by experienced investors who share our commitment to long-term value creation and responsible stewardship.

Principals

We met in 2001 as U.S. Naval Academy roommates and have been friends ever since. We formed this partnership based on Matt's knowledge of search funds from business school and Charles' geographic flexibility; and our background experiences, complimentary skillsets and shared values have made it a great success.

Matt Gallery

Matt is an accomplished business leader and investor with extensive experience across all aspects of SME acquisition and operation. Prior to his role as Principal at Hanover Gate Capital, his entrepreneruial experience included transforming a family-owned business and building multiple new fitness studios. At Almost Heavenly Christmas Trees he modernized the operations, digital presence, HR and supply chain—resulting in substantial growth, including a 100% increase in revenue and a 70% rise in free cash flow. He has also partnered with another USNA classmate investing in and supporting the growth of multiple F45 Training franchises, demonstrating his expertise in building and growing valuable businesses.

Matt's background includes leadership roles at prominent financial institutions such as MarketAxess and UBS Group AG, where he managed significant technology and operational transformation projects, including creation of a new financial reporting application and implementation of in house trade clearing and settlement capabilities and complex cross-border trade booking models. His service as a U.S. Navy officer further underscores the breadth of his leadership experience and organizational skills, having led multiple large-scale engineering and gunnery divisions aboard multiple naval vessels and a recruiting division ashore. Matt holds an MBA from London Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the United States Naval Academy.

Charles Stephens

Charles is a results-driven executive with extensive experience in operational leadership, strategic planning, and team management across corporate, startup, and nonprofit sectors. He is currently the CEO of CarWorks Collision Repair Center, a Phoenix based auto body shop and Hanover Gate Capital's first portfolio acquisition.

Prior to Hanover Gate Capital, Charles successfully executed significant projects as Operations Special Projects Manager at Mercy Ships, notably leading the operational setup of the newly built Global Mercy ship—a complex, quarter-billion-dollar project completed ahead of schedule. He also founded and managed CWR Partners, an innovative fintech startup providing algorithmic trading solutions, securing partnerships with top crypto exchanges and achieving leading global visibility.

Charles' corporate background includes multiple leadership roles at JCPenney, where as a store General Manager he substantially increased profits, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement. His experience at the corporate level spanned process improvement, data-driven analytics, and operational excellence, having restructured organizational processes affecting over 116,000 employees. His early career highlights include management roles at Starbucks and service in the United States Navy. Charles holds a BA in Social Science from Ashford University and attended the United States Naval Academy.