Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously appointed a new executive director for the city’s port. He also was given unanimous approval by the Harbor Board of Commissioners shortly before the council approved of him taking over as well. The hiring of a new executive director is a pivotal position considering that the port has been without leadership since late last year, despite it being one of the nation’s biggest seaports.
Gene Seroka, 49, is a veteran shipping industry executive who serves as head of the commercial division for the Americas region at American President Lines Ltd.
Seroka will oversee a budget of $939 million and several improvement projects. The port is looking to stay competitive in the wake of an upcoming $5 billion Panama Canal expansion that some worry will divert LA’s cargo traffic to other ports elsewhere.
Seroka said in a statement that he will be that he is focused on making the port a “competitive, efficient, and sustainable source of prosperity.”
A port spokesman said Seroka will take over the role next month. He will be stepping in after the port’s last permanent leader, Geraldine Knatz, who stepped down in November.
Read more about Seroka’s new position here.