Richmond-area car wash chain promotes CEO, other execs

Richmond-area car wash chain Flagstop Car Wash has promoted three executives, including its new CEO, it announced Tuesday.

Chester-based Flagstop promoted Spencer Rakes from chief operating officer to CEO. Rakes joined Flagstop in April 2024, previously holding leadership roles with fuel supplier and travel center chain Pilot, Dollar General, Sears Holdings and Kmart. He oversaw Flagstop’s mobile app rollout and improved operating efficiency.

“I am honored to step into this role and to build on the significant momentum our business has achieved, marked by our extraordinary team and the success of our customer-first business model,” Rakes said in a statement.

The company also promoted Craig Marable from vice president of operations to chief site operations officer and Derek Haynes from vice president of maintenance and facilities to chief facilities and infrastructure officer.

Marable joined the company more than 25 years ago. He will oversee site safety, efficiency and team leadership to support sustainable growth and the chain’s guest experience. Haynes joined Flagstop in 2007.

Rakes succeeds Jamie Nester, who transitioned to the chief growth and development officer role. Nester joined the company in 1994.

“I look forward to continuing to scale the company into more communities across Central Virginia and beyond, while preserving the culture and quality service that has been key to our success over the past 44 years,” Nester said in a statement.

Founded in Chester in 1981, Flagstop has 24 locations in the Greater Richmond market and expects to have about 30 sites by the end of the year. New York investment firm Garnett Station Partners announced an undisclosed investment in Flagstop in 2023.