Camping World co-founder and CEO Marcus Lemonis will retire Jan. 1, 2026. The move sets into motion a succession plan that Lemonis said has been discussed internally over the last several years.
Camping World President Matthew Wagner will succeed Lemonis as CEO and take a seat on the board of directors. Board of Directors Vice Chairman Brent Moody will succeed Lemonis as chairman.
Lemonis said the transition will be smooth. Lemonis and Wagner spoke Tuesday morning at the Raymond James TMT and Consumer Conference.
“Matt Wagner joined our company 19 years ago and has been by my side more regularly for the last eight,” Lemonis said. “He has demonstrated a form of leadership that any founder/owner would really aspire to have on their team.”
Lemonis said he would remain an advisor to Wagner but that he wanted a clean break from the company. The break includes Lemonis stepping down from the board of directors.
“I thought a lot to myself about what I would want if I was in his shoes,” Lemonis said. “I would not want to have the founder looking over my shoulder the whole time and second-guessing what I was doing.”
Wagner said he anticipated a seamless transition. He said the company has a winning strategy, a strong brand and a world-class team.
“Marcus has impacted countless lives over the last few decades-plus,” Wagner said, “and it is pretty unbelievable the icon that he has become in the entire RV industry.”
The executives talk regularly, and Lemonis said he believed Wagner needed to know that, as the company’s largest shareholder, Lemonis was supporting him. Lemonis said the transition timing was right after his 25 years in the RV industry.
“I feel like I understand the business in the industry better than anybody,” he said. “As we head into 2026, I am very optimistic. When you have a personal and professional relationship with somebody, it is your duty to ensure that the setup is nothing but positive for them.”
Wagner said the company must deleverage its balance sheet while growing earnings.
“We know we have a massive amount of work to do,” he said, “to ensure the legacy of this company continues to evolve and exist long after us.”
Moody has served on the Camping World Board of Directors since May 2018 and has been vice chairman since May. He thanked Lemonis for his company leadership.
“He has been the driving force in building Camping World into the world’s largest RV retailer,” Moody said. “Marcus has been a tireless and trusted mentor, coworker and friend of mine for over 23 years. I know that he has the utmost confidence in Matt, and I look forward to him remaining a trusted advisor to the company.”
