NextBoat Appoints Zebulon Hadley to Board and Promotes Todd Bates to VP of Finance & I

NextBoat Inc., a vertically integrated, technology-driven marine marketplace, has bolstered its leadership team to propel the company into its next phase of growth. The company recently appointed Zebulon Hadley to its Board of Directors and promoted Todd Bates to Vice President of Finance & Insurance (F&I).

"We are scaling NextBoat into a mature public company, and having the right people on our Board and in our F&I business is crucial," said Brian John, Chief Executive Officer of NextBoat. "Zebulon and Todd bring extensive industry experience that aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives."

Zebulon Hadley, President and CEO of National Coatings, Inc., a commercial painting and industrial coatings contractor, joins the Board as an independent director. He will also chair the Compensation Committee. Hadley's entrepreneurial career spans two decades and includes founding, acquiring, and scaling several businesses. His appointment marks a significant addition to NextBoat's governance structure.

"I am excited to join NextBoat's Board at this important stage in the company's growth," said Hadley. "I look forward to leveraging my experience in aligning people and processes to ensure accountability, governance, and execution as NextBoat continues to scale."

Todd Bates, with over a decade of experience in F&I leadership at one of the nation's largest marine retail groups, has been named VP of F&I. Most recently, he served as Corporate Director of Finance and successfully grew F&I revenue by more than $5 million on flat sales volume across 80 locations. His previous role as Business Manager at a single dealership saw F&I revenue increase from $600,000 to $2.4 million.

"I am thrilled to be joining NextBoat because I see a tremendous opportunity to build something special in the boating industry," said Bates. "My goal is to bring my experience and customer-focused approach to help grow the company while delivering an exceptional customer experience."

NextBoat Inc., founded in 2012, has transformed the boat buying and selling process through its AI-powered marine marketplace. The company operates across boat brokerage, wholesale inventory acquisition, auctions, financing, and marine services. With a focus on expanding its national footprint and market share within the $57 billion U.S. marine industry, NextBoat's latest leadership appointments are aimed at driving the company's growth and establishing itself as a leader in the sector.

These strategic hires come as NextBoat continues to redefine how boats are bought, sold, and financed nationwide. The appointments underscore the company's commitment to maintaining robust governance and revenue leadership as it prepares for its next phase of expansion.