# Geoffrey Karas

> Geoffrey (Geoff) Karas is the Miami-based CEO and co-founder of El Car Wash’s current operating platform and a co-founder of Audrose Partners. After a career in finance, he and Justin Landau took over four existing El Car Wash locations in 2019 and moved from New York to operate the business. Backed by Warburg Pincus since 2022, the company reported 110 locations and nearly 600,000 members when it entered Chicago in October 2026.

- **Role:** CEO and Co-founder of the current platform at El Car Wash
- **Organizations:** El Car Wash, National Express Wash, Audrose Partners, Silver Rock Financial, LP, KarpReilly, LLC, Barclays Capital
- **Education:** BA in Economics; graduated summa cum laude, Colgate University, The Loomis Chaffee School
- **Known for:** Co-built the current El Car Wash platform from four locations in 2019 to a company reporting 110 locations in October 2026., Co-founded Audrose Partners and National Express Wash., Partnered with Warburg Pincus in the 2022 acquisition supporting further expansion.

## Career timeline

- **2010-2012** — Investment Banking Analyst at Barclays Capital; dates reported in public professional directory.
- **2012-2014** — Private Equity Associate at KarpReilly, LLC; dates reported in public professional directory.
- **2014-2018** — Investment Analyst at Silver Rock Financial, LP; dates reported in public professional directory.
- **2019** — Co-founded National Express Wash with Justin Landau, initially serving as president; the Wafra, Audrose and Fireside-backed platform acquired El Car Wash. The partners took over four existing sites and moved to Miami.
- **2021** — El Car Wash acquired three Motor City Car Wash locations in Palm Beach County.
- **2022** — Warburg Pincus acquired El Car Wash from affiliates of Wafra, Audrose Partners and Fireside Investments; Karas was identified as co-CEO.
- **2024** — The company opened its Doral headquarters and entered Michigan in Brighton; Barry Sanders became a part-owner and brand ambassador.
- **2026** — As CEO, Karas led a company expanding into Baltimore through Canton Car Wash and Chicago through four Sparkle Express locations.

## Achievements

- Co-built the current El Car Wash platform from four locations in 2019 to a company reporting 110 locations in October 2026.
- Co-founded Audrose Partners and National Express Wash.
- Partnered with Warburg Pincus in the 2022 acquisition supporting further expansion.
- Led El Car Wash as it expanded across Florida, Michigan, Maryland and Illinois.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — October 15: announced acquisition of four Sparkle Express locations entering Chicagoland, with a 50-site regional pipeline. The company reported 110 locations and nearly 600,000 members.
- **2026-09** — September 24: announced its eighth Michigan location on Mack Avenue in Detroit, with a grand opening scheduled for October 10.
- **2026-05** — May 28: announced acquisition of six operating Canton Car Wash locations in the Baltimore metropolitan area, entering the Mid-Atlantic.

## Links

- Website: https://elcarwash.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-karas-78703b9

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/geoffrey-karas
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20