Boat retailer adds private jet company executive to board

CLEARWATER — MarineMax, one of the nation’s leading boat sellers, has elected air travel industry executive Adam Johnson to its board of directors.

Johnson, a licensed pilot, is the chairman and CEO of NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company that offers private jet travel solutions via its fleet of 760 airplanes worldwide. According to a press release, he’s been with the firm for 25 years and has held numerous senior leadership roles.

“We are very excited and honored to have Adam join our board of directors,” MarineMax President and CEO Brett McGill states in the release. “Adam’s passion for business aviation and his dedication to safety and service for NetJets customers aligns well with MarineMax’s commitment to exceeding our customers’ expectations. We are confident that he will be a strong addition to our board and his years of experience, plus his passion for boating, will complement our ongoing efforts to continue profitably growing MarineMax. On behalf of the board, we welcome Adam and look forward to his future contributions to the company.”

NetJets offers lease and shared ownership programs for private jets. Customers who fly less than 50 hours per year and don’t need to own or lease a plane can take advantage of the NetJets Card Program, allowing them to pay a fixed, upfront fee for their flight time.

“I am excited to join the MarineMax board of directors,” Johnson states in the release. “MarineMax, like NetJets, is the clear leader in its industry. Many similarities exist between the two business models, and I look forward to the opportunity to assist the company in achieving its strategic goals and objectives.”

Clearwater-based MarineMax generated $1.51 billion in gross revenue in 2020, up from $1.24 billion in 2019 — an increase of nearly 22%.