POOLCORP Welcomes John Watwood as President and CEO

POOLCORP, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and outdoor living products, announced the appointment of John Watwood as president and CEO.

Watwood joined the company in January 2026 as executive vice president and has quickly made an impact after spending much of his time in POOLCORP sales centers, meeting with customers, engaging with suppliers and aligning closely with teams across the business.

Before joining POOLCORP, Watwood served as senior vice president of sales and operations at Motion Industries, a leading distributor of industrial parts and value-added solutions and a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company. During his career, he has led large-scale sales and operations organizations focused on customer growth, supply chain excellence and market expansion.

“John has gained the trust of our employees, customers and suppliers in a very short period of time,” says Kenny St. Romain, senior vice president at POOLCORP. “He understands distribution at its core, but more importantly, he understands the value of relationships and the local support that our customers need. Our field teams have seen firsthand his commitment to listening, supporting our customers and helping us continue to evolve our already successful service model. There’s real excitement across the organization about where we’re headed under John’s leadership.”

Watwood’s appointment marks the next chapter for POOLCORP as the company continues to invest in customer-focused solutions, sales and service excellence, operational capabilities and technology-enabled experiences designed to help industry professionals grow and operate more efficiently.

“I’m incredibly honored to lead POOLCORP in an industry built on lasting partnerships, trust and service,” Watwood says. “What has stood out to me most over the last several months is the passion of our people and the strength of our relationships. I am excited to build upon our incredible legacy and look forward to strengthening our support for the industry by deepening our customer and supplier relationships, and continuing to invest in the people, capabilities and execution that make POOLCORP the best and most value-driven distribution partner.”