Pool Corp. has appointed John Watwood as President and CEO, effective May 4, as Peter Arvan steps down from the roles and from the company’s board, the distributor announced.

The Covington, LA-based company — the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies and related outdoor products — said board chair John Stokely has been named Executive Chair as part of the transition.

“As POOLCORP continues to execute its strategic priorities, the Board believes now is the right time for this leadership transition,” Stokely said in a May 4 news release. “Through our ongoing succession planning, the board determined that Mr. Watwood has the right set of leadership, operational and strategic skills and experience to lead the company into its next phase of growth. During his tenure at POOLCORP, John quickly earned the respect of the entire organization and the board. I am pleased to announce his appointment and look forward to continuing to work closely with him to ensure that POOLCORP delivers on our mission.”

Watwood joined Pool Corp. in January as Executive Vice President and brings more than two decades of experience in industrial and specialty distribution. Prior to joining the company, he served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations at Motion Industries, where he led growth and operational initiatives across the business. Earlier in his career, he held roles at SMC Corporation of America and Applied Industrial Technologies.

Arvan, who had served as President and CEO, will step down concurrent with the appointment. He had been with the company since late 2016 and served as its CEO since 2019.

“With all of our success, the greatest accomplishment has been the team we have amassed, from our leadership to our distribution network and every person in between,” Arvan added in the release. “We have been, and will continue to be, recognized for our operational excellence and our culture of customer service that is executed with pride and passion. I value the relationships I formed with our employees, suppliers, investors, and customers. I have every confidence that POOLCORP will continue to grow, be better, and stronger, as I continue to cheer this team on from the sidelines.”

Pool Corp. operates hundreds of sales centers across North America, Europe and Australia and distributes more than 200,000 products to approximately 125,000 customers, primarily through wholesale channels.