NextBoat AI| Investor Relations

NextBoat Appoints Proven Growth Executive Ross Tannenbaum as Chief Executive Officer

Former Fanatics President and Dreams CEO Brings Public Company Leadership and a Record of Building Category-Defining Consumer Businesses

WILMINGTON, NC / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2026 / NextBoat Inc. (NYSE American:NXB) (“NextBoat” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated, technology-driven marine marketplace and one of the largest buyers and sellers of used boats in the United States, today announced the appointment of Ross Tannenbaum as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Tannenbaum succeeds Brian John, who will remain on the Board of Directors to support a smooth transition. His appointment marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter for NextBoat as the Company moves from building its public-company foundation to driving toward profitability, expanding its national reach, and scaling a technology platform designed to transform the marine industry.

“This is a defining moment for NextBoat,” said Jason Ruegg, President of NextBoat. “We have built something truly unique: a public, technology-driven marine platform with the ability to buy, sell, finance, and service boats at national scale. Ross is the leader we believe can unlock the full potential of that platform. Ross has gotten to know our team and our business over the past several weeks, and he shares our focus on disciplined execution, sustainable profitability, and long-term shareholder value. His track record, energy, and ability to scale consumer businesses make him an exceptional fit for where we are going. I could not be more excited about the future of this Company.”

Mr. Tannenbaum brings a rare combination of public-company leadership, entrepreneurial experience, and large-scale retail execution. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Dreams, Inc., a publicly traded sports licensed products and memorabilia company, and joined Fanatics, Inc. following its acquisition of Dreams in 2012. At Fanatics, a leading global retailer of licensed sports merchandise and apparel, he went on to serve in several senior executive roles through 2019, including President of Retail and Collectibles through 2018, followed by a strategic business development role. Since leaving Fanatics, Mr. Tannenbaum has continued to build and invest in entrepreneurial ventures.

“NextBoat has the assets, the brands, the technology, and the entrepreneurial culture to become a truly important company in the marine industry,” said Ross Tannenbaum, Chief Executive Officer of NextBoat. “The opportunity is enormous. This is a highly fragmented market, and NextBoat is building an integrated platform capable of making the entire experience faster, smarter, and more efficient for boaters, brokers, dealers, and lenders. Everything I’ve learned through this process only reinforces my conviction that the foundation is here. Now our focus is execution: strengthening the core business, driving profitability, and scaling what works. I am thrilled to lead NextBoat into this next phase.”

In connection with Mr. Tannenbaum’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the grant to Mr. Tannenbaum, effective upon approval by the NYSE American of the listing of the underlying shares, of non-qualified stock options to purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The awards consist of (i) options to purchase 1,000,000 shares, of which 200,000 vest on the date of grant and the remainder vest in 48 equal monthly installments; (ii) options to purchase 1,000,000 shares that vest in four equal tranches upon the Company achieving specified levels of Adjusted EBITDA; and (iii) options to purchase 500,000 shares that vest if the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock is $5.00 or greater over 60 consecutive trading days, in each case subject to Mr. Tannenbaum’s continued employment and to accelerated vesting in specified circumstances. Each option has a term of ten years. The awards are being granted outside of the Company’s 2025 Equity Incentive Plan as an inducement material to Mr. Tannenbaum’s entry into employment with the Company, in reliance on the employment inducement exception under Section 711(a) of the NYSE American Company Guide. The awards are further described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mr. Tannenbaum’s appointment signals a new phase of focused execution for NextBoat. With an expanding national footprint, a growing portfolio of marine brands, proprietary technology, and capabilities spanning brokerage, wholesale acquisition, financing, and service, the Company believes it is positioned to build a more connected and efficient marine marketplace while pursuing sustainable growth and long-term value for shareholders.

About NextBoat Inc.

Founded in 2012, NextBoat Inc., previously known as Off The Hook YS Inc., is a vertically integrated, technology-driven marine marketplace transforming how boats are bought, sold, financed, and serviced across the United States. Through proprietary technology, transaction data, financing capabilities, and a growing national acquisition network, the Company operates across boat brokerage, wholesale inventory acquisition, auctions, financing, and marine services. NextBoat’s ecosystem includes Off The Hook Yachts, Autograph Yacht Group, Azure Funding, and proprietary lead-generation platforms. Headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, NextBoat is rapidly expanding its national footprint and market share within the $57 billion U.S. marine industry.

Contact

Investor Relations
ir@nextboat.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws regarding NextBoat Inc. (“Company”), including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s business strategy, technology platform, market opportunity, planned operations, and expected results and benefits. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “evaluate,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” or “will,” or the negative of such terms thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations, and intentions and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results, performance or achievements, including the timing of events, may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other subsequent filings with the SEC. Copies of these filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements and reflect the views stated therein with respect to future events at such dates, even if they are subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update, revise or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances occurring after the date such statements were made, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: NextBoat Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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George Jousma

Independent Director

George Jousma, age 66, brings more than 45 years of executive experience representing the Italian yachting sector in the Americas. In 1994, Mr. Jousma became President of Allied Marine/Richard Bertram Yachts, where he expanded the business from a single yacht product line generating under $20 million in sales to a company of over 200 employees across nine locations, with revenues exceeding $200 million. 

During his 14-year tenure, Allied became one of the largest distributors of Azimut, Benetti, and Ferretti yachts in the Americas, ultimately leading to its acquisition by the Ferretti Group in 2008. That same year, Mr. Jousma founded Sanlorenzo of the Americas, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer for ten years and establishing Sanlorenzo as one of the leading motor yacht brands in the region.

 Mr. Jousma also served on the Board of Directors and as a two-term President of the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA), the largest professional association of its kind globally. He has been an active participant in the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) and is a lifelong boater originally from the Midwestern United States.

Mary Reynolds

Independent Director

Mary Reynolds, age 41, has over 15 years of leadership experience in retail and commercial finance, with a focus on business development, process optimization, and strategic growth. Mrs. Reynolds currently serves as Digital Innovation Director at a Connecticut-based bank, where she leads cross-functional teams in delivering technology-driven financial solutions. 

Previously, Mrs. Reynolds led marine operations at a top-performing national bank, supporting over $500 million in loan originations in under two years while managing federal and state regulatory audits. 

From November 2024 to May 2025, she served as Vice President of Consumer Lending at The Washington Trust Company. From July 2020 to August 2023, Mrs. Reynolds served as Chief Operating Officer of LV/Bank of Clark and later as Senior Vice President, Head of Operations at LV/Axos Bank of LaVictoire Finance.

Jim Seagrave

Independent Director

Jim Segrave, age 54, is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of flyExclusive, one of North America’s largest and most innovative private jet operators. Founded in 2015, flyExclusive operates a fleet of over 90 light, mid, and super-midsize jets, employs nearly 800 professionals, and generated estimated annual revenues exceeding $350 million in 2024.

 In December 2023, flyExclusive (NYSE: FLYX) completed its public listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Segrave previously founded Segrave Aviation, Inc., a successful aircraft charter company sold to Delta Air Lines in 2010, which became Delta Private Jets. He also founded LGM Ventures, LLC, which operates fixed-base operations (FBOs) at Eastern North Carolina airports, the largest daycare center in Kinston, and a restaurant and bar in Atlantic Beach. Mr. Segrave has been named to the North Carolina Power List of Most Influential Leaders for the past three years.

 In 2024, he received the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award and was awarded the Key to the City by the Mayor. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Quality Equipment, which owns and operates 38 John Deere dealerships, and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of L. Harvey & Son, one of North Carolina’s oldest privately held businesses, founded in 1871. Mr. Segrave is also a member of the Board of Trustees at East Carolina University, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Industrial Advisory Board, and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Leadership Council.

Mike Kosloske

Independent Director

Mike Kosloske, age 61, is a third-generation insurance industry professional with a long-standing track record in executive leadership and public company governance.

 He is the founder of Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. (HIIQ), a health insurance technology company that completed its initial public offering on Nasdaq in February 2013. Mr. Kosloske served as Chief Executive Officer of HIIQ, which was recognized as the #1 Growth Company on Nasdaq in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2013, he was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. HIIQ was acquired by Madison Dearborn Partners in 2019. Mr. Kosloske previously served on the Board of Directors for St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation (2016 – 2025) and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Seminole Boosters (2019 – Present). 

He is also Managing Partner of Future Labs Capital, a firm focused on funding and consulting for MIT-affiliated companies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum computing (2024 – Present).

Andrew Simmons

Executive Vice President

Andrew Simmons, age 37, combines over 19 years of experience in senior sales and marketing leadership across the marine and automotive industries. Previously, he had been involved in multiple ventures within these sectors, holding positions including Founder, Partner, and President of Sales. Mr. Simmons was the Founder and Partner of American Yacht Group, one of the United States’ largest new yacht dealerships, generating over $100 million in annual sales since its inception in 2019. 

His success at American Yacht Group contributed to over 50% growth in annual sales for HCB Yachts. Most recently, Mr. Simmons was promoted to President of Sales for HCB Yachts globally. Mr. Simmons has demonstrated a consistent ability to drive growth in competitive markets through innovative sales strategies and strong leadership. 

His experience in scaling businesses provides a valuable commercial perspective that supports the Company’s expansion and revenue growth initiatives.

Chad Corbin

Chief Financial Officer

Chad Corbin, age 47, combines over 22 years of experience in financial and operational senior management following a career that began at Ferguson Enterprises. Previously, he had been involved in multiple companies within the financial and manufacturing industries, holding positions including Chief Financial Officer, Controller, General Manager, and Operations Manager.

 From 2000 through 2008, Mr. Corbin was the Credit Manager and later the Operations Manager for Ferguson Enterprises’ Jacksonville, FL branch. From 2008 to 2017, he served as Controller and subsequently as Chief Financial Officer and General Manager of Filmwerks International, a company specializing in event production and technical solutions. During his nine-year tenure, he was responsible for overseeing financial operations, maintaining the company’s banking relationships, overseeing two large competitor acquisitions. Following Filmwerks, from 2017 to 2024, Mr. Corbin worked as a Financial/ Operational consultant for several small companies. 

Two of his larger contracts were with Audioengine and Manufacturing Methods. Audioengine, a leading innovator in high-end audio equipment, he managed accounting, fulfilment, production, and sales support functions. Manufacturing Methods, he served has their CFO, where he was responsible for financial and human resources decisions across three companies, maintaining compliance with GAAP standards. Mr. Corbin is also currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

BLake R. Phillips

Chief Operating Officer

Blake R. Phillips, age 39, combines over 17 years of experience in the recreational marine industry’s senior management.

 Previously, he had been involved in three major companies in the boating industry, holding positions including senior sales executive and Chief Operating Officer. From 2013 through 2022, Mr. Phillips held leadership roles with White River Marine Group, the world’s largest builder of fishing and recreational boats by volume, and MarineMax, the world’s largest retailer of recreational boats and yachts. 

In October 2022, he joined Off The Hook YS Inc. as Chief Operating Officer to lead the Company’s expansion of its consumer base, supplier network, stores, and operational systems. Mr. Phillips has recruited, built, and led teams of over 100, earned top sales accolades for brands such as Boston Whaler and Azimut Yachts, consulted on new vessel manufacturing, opened retail locations, and designed and managed major boat show displays.

Brian S. John

Chief Executive Officer

Brian S. John, age 56, combines over 25 years of experience in financial consulting, capital markets, and senior executive leadership, following a career as an investor and advisor to global emerging growth companies. Previously, he had been involved in numerous companies in the financial consulting and consumer products industries, holding positions including Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and board member.

From 2018 through 2023, Mr. John was the Chief Executive Officer of Jupiter Wellness, Inc., a consumer health and wellness company that he took public on NASDAQ in November 2020. In 2021, as CEO of Jupiter Wellness, he acquired SRM Entertainment, which began trading on NASDAQ in August 2023. From 2021 to 2023, he also served as CEO of Jupiter Wellness Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ: JWAC), now known as CJET. Mr. John is the founder of Caro Partners, LLC, a financial consulting firm specializing in advising emerging growth companies, and has worked with hundreds of companies across dozens of countries. Mr. John served on the board of directors of The Learning Center at the Els Center of Excellence, a school for children with autism in Jupiter, Florida, from 2015 through 2023.

Jason Ruegg

Founder, President and Chairman of the Board

Jason Ruegg, age 36, combines over 12 years of experience in senior management within the marine industry following an entrepreneurial career that began during college. Previously, he had been involved in multiple ventures within the recreational boating sector, holding positions including Founder, President, and Chairman. Since 2012, Mr. Ruegg has served as Founder and President of Off the Hook Yachts, a national leader in the wholesale and retail pre-owned yacht market. 

Under his leadership, the company has completed nearly 10,000 transactions and acquired close to $1 billion in used boats and yachts. Off the Hook Yachts has been repeatedly recognized, including being named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies, consistently ranked among Boating Industry’s Top 100 Dealers, and has completed over 5,000 transactions. In addition to leading core operations, Mr. Ruegg founded Azure Funding, a marine finance company, which has grown to over $100 million in annual loans, and has acquired multiple marinas, shipyards, and dry-stack facilities. 

Mr. Ruegg is also currently a director of Off the Hook YS Inc., a vertically integrated marine retail and finance platform.