WhiteWater Express Car Wash implemented a strategic leadership transition designed to position the company for its next phase of continued growth and expansion.
After more than a decade of leadership, Steve Mathis, co-founder and CEO, will retire from his role effective July 31, and transition to executive chairman of the company. As part of the transition, Clayton Clark, co-founder, president, and COO, will take over as CEO.
“Over the past 10 years, we have built a business defined by our people, our values, and our commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience,” said Mathis. “I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished and extremely confident that Clayton is the right leader to guide WhiteWater into its next chapter.”
Clark has played a central role in building WhiteWater into one of the leading express car wash platforms in the United States, with a strong culture and operating foundation. His deep understanding of the business and long-standing leadership within the organization will enable him to continue driving the company’s growth and operational excellence.
“I am honored to step into the CEO role and build upon the foundation that Steve and our team have created,” said Clark. “WhiteWater’s success has always been driven by our people and our commitment to customers, and I look forward to leading the organization through its next phase of expansion.”
In conjunction with the CEO transition, WhiteWater announced additional key leadership appointments:
- Henry Shine has been promoted from chief strategy officer to president.
- Mark Sandoval has been promoted from vice president of operations to chief operating officer.
Both Shine and Sandoval have demonstrated strong leadership and operational impact throughout their tenure with the company. The executive, along with chief financial officer Michael Arnett, will play important roles in driving continued long-term growth, leadership development, and operational execution.
The leadership transition follows a period of significant momentum for WhiteWater, including recent expansion into the Georgia market with the acquisition of Sparkle Express and continued de novo growth, with several recent grand openings and 10 additional sites planned for the rest of the year. The company operates more than 150 locations across multiple states and serves customers through a growing national footprint.