Camping World has announced a major CEO change, with long-time executive Matthew Wagner set to take over as chief executive officer on January 1, 2026. He will replace Marcus Lemonis, who is stepping back from day-to-day leadership but will remain involved with the company.
The news signals a new chapter for the nation’s largest RV dealer, but many customers may wonder if it will actually affect their experience.
A smooth transition on the surface
The company says the leadership handoff has been carefully planned. Wagner is a longtime insider, having joined Camping World in 2007, and has served as president and chief operating officer. Lemonis will stay on as co-founder, major shareholder, and “special advisor,” while Brent Moody takes over as chairman of the board.
Publicly, the message is one of stability and continuity, rather than sudden change.
What it could mean for RV shoppers
For retail customers, the Camping World CEO change is unlikely to completely change how business is done on dealership lots. Shoppers can expect more structured pricing and continued emphasis on online tools before visiting the store. Bundled offers—including warranties, financing packages, and memberships—are likely to remain a big part of the sales approach. The company also appears set to keep focusing on used inventory and trade-in deals.
In short, the way the company sells RVs may stay familiar, even with a new CEO at the helm.
What service customers might notice
Service departments could feel the impact more quickly. Wagner’s background in operations and systems points to tighter processes, more standardized labor times, and stricter warranty interpretations. While these changes can help the company run more efficiently, they may feel rigid to customers.
At the same time, there may be more promotion of prepaid maintenance plans, extended service contracts, and bundled repair packages.
Customer trust may take time to rebuild
The announcement doesn’t directly address long-standing customer complaints. Until shoppers and service customers see faster repairs, clearer pricing, and smoother problem resolution, many are likely to remain skeptical.
Camping World has faced criticism over aggressive sales tactics, long repair delays, and warranty disputes. A leadership change alone may not be enough to change that perception.
What customers should watch for
For most customers, the real test of the Camping World CEO change won’t be the press release. It will show up in wait times for service appointments, clarity in repair estimates, how disputes are handled, and whether pricing becomes easier to understand.
Until those improvements appear, many customers may view this as a new face leading the same system.
Sources include Camping World media release, Investing.com, Securities & Exchange Commission
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RVT1239b
“Looks like a Duck, Walks like a Duck and Sounds like a Duck; pretty good chance it’s a Duck”. Camping World will never change it’s MO until wholesale changes-AKA- firings take place from the top on down.
Yep. Wagner has been President and COO. Why would the COO start changing processes he’s already championed as a top executive? If anything, it sounds like the plan is to push more prepaid services that the consumer will be fought against tooth and nail when attempting to redeem.
A pile of dung by any other name is still a pile of dung. 💩
Quack, quack! lol.
When Lemonis dropped the 3 magazines (Good Sam, Trailer Life, Motorhome Mag.), made Trip Planner extra cost, quit providing any support/publicity for local Good Sam chapters, and bought out many of the best locally-owned dealerships, we decided nothing about his company was worth paying for. We can get more comprehensive, worry-free roadside assistance from Coach-Net, better discounts on parts from Amazon, much better RV park discounts from Passport America, and less-biased campground ratings from Campgroundreviews.com and Campendium.com. Don’t need Good Sam for anything and haven’t shopped at the Camping World store 5 miles from our house since 2017!
The problem, Steve, is you know that, I know that, everyone reading this Newsletter knows that, but the poor first timers don’t know anything about CW.
I visited my first Camping World Store last year. I didn’t like the pressure, sales people following us around, trying to sell us a camper we didn’t want.. Couldn’t go outside to look at RV’s unless a salesperson let you out. I’ve had a couple of campers over the past 30 years… looking to retire in less than 5, I know what I want and want to check the quality of the undercarriage a decent quality much more than the wife wants the interior layout to look a certain way. PLUS, living in South Bend, IN I know people that are working in some of these factories. I wouldn’t buy any unit in that was made in the 2019-2024 range.. to many of the companies did away with drug testing. IT SHOWS!
NOTHING will change until Greed Monger Lemonis is completely out of the picture. He has totally destroyed the trusted good name of Camping World. I haven’t purchased anything from CW for the past 8 years. CW’s reputation for BAD SERVICE & FALSE promises is known nation wide. Thank you Marcus for ruining a once Great Company!!
Nothing will change, as a matter of fact it will get worse for the consumer. Only sucker shop caming world
If anyone thinks there’s a snowball’s chance of any positive changes, I’d like to talk to you about owning your own bridge. The new guy has been under Mr. Lemon(is) tutelage for nearly two decades. We just bought a newer RV and never once considered Camping World while we were shopping.
I think the change is a non-change, and maybe even a shift that will affect the poor first-time RV buyer even more now with deceptive sales practices, shoddy repair, and long warranty repair work waits.
I wouldn’t buy a pup tent from Camping World!
The skunk is still under the porch….
Most of these “CEO’s” think they are just “it”. They all seem to just follow what someone else has already done. Unfortunately more rigid typically means LESS customer oriented. If the RV Dealership/Manufacturer wants people to buy its products, they need to have a reasonable warranty and then back it. Just look at the numbers. The RV industry sales are dropping to a more “normal” routine. The sounds I’m hearing, and I really hope I’m wrong, is sorry, that warranty expired yesterday! Buyer Beware!