Mayor Garcetti Nominates Shipping Executive Gene Seroka as Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles

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Gene Seroka (Photo: Business Wire)

LOS ANGELES--()--Mayor Eric Garcetti has nominated Gene Seroka, an executive with APL shipping line, as the next Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles.

"I'm proud to nominate Gene Seroka to be the next Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's top container port," said Mayor Eric Garcetti. "I'm confident that Gene will be a strong leader who will enhance our international trade agenda, increase reliability and efficiency through effective management and labor relations, and ensure our Port is a sustainable and positive neighbor to the Harbor community."

Garcetti continued: "I would also like to thank Interim Executive Director Gary Lee Moore for leading the Port so capably over the last seven months, and I am delighted to welcome him back to his critical role as the City Engineer of the City of Los Angeles, where he is responsible for the City’s vast network of public infrastructure.”

"I'm thrilled that Mayor Garcetti has tapped me to lead the Port of Los Angeles -- the busiest container port in the United States," said Gene Seroka. "I look forward to focusing our operations to provide world-class customer service while continuing to invest in a healthy and vibrant harbor community."

The Board of Harbor Commissioners will consider Mayor Garcetti's nomination at its June 5th meeting. Seroka's nomination is subject to confirmation by the Los Angeles City Council.

"Gene Seroka is uniquely qualified to lead the Port of Los Angeles," said Ambassador Vilma Martinez, President of the Board of Harbor Commissioners. "His maritime and global commerce expertise, leadership skills, and strategic vision are exactly what we need as the nation’s premier trade gateway."

Martinez said: "The Board of Harbor Commissioners is grateful to all our stakeholders who generously responded to the search committee’s survey or met with our team to provide invaluable feedback and perspective. The Port and its Executive Director have wide-ranging responsibilities; but with the help of our diverse and engaged stakeholder base, we are confident that Mr. Seroka will succeed in his efforts to take our Port to the next level."

"We are also grateful to Interim Executive Director Gary Lee Moore for his outstanding stewardship and service to the Port during this transition period," Martinez said.

Seroka is Head of Commercial in the Americas Region for American Presidents Line (APL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) and the world's seventh largest ocean carrier. He was previously President of the Americas Region. Based in Phoenix, he led more than 1,000 employees and all of APL’s Sales and Operations activities in North, Central, and South America. He managed sales for the Company’s Liner Shipping as well as overseeing its four U.S. marine terminals and intermodal operations throughout the geography. In his previous role, he was Vice President Middle East & East Africa, based in Dubai, for NOL group from April 2008.

Beginning in October 2005, Seroka served as the Vice President of APL Logistics Ltd located in Singapore, responsible for the logistics business in the twenty-six country Asia/Middle East & South Asia regions. Previously, he was the Managing Director of APL and APL Logistics Indonesia. Based in Jakarta, he was responsible for all Liner and Logistics business throughout the archipelago from June 2003 to October 2005.

Seroka began working for APL after graduating from business school as a sales support representative in the company’s Cincinnati office. He then served in a variety of roles in the sales management and marketing fields, in assignments throughout the United States. He was then posted as Director of Sales and Marketing in Shanghai for APL (China) Company Ltd in 1999.

Seroka obtained a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of New Orleans in 1986 and an MBA from the University of New Orleans in 1988.

In February 2014, the executive search firm Ralph Anderson & Associates began the search for a new Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. Stakeholder groups, including representatives from the shipping industry, local community, labor, local elected officials and business groups, provided their perspectives on priorities for the position. In addition, a public hearing and an electronic survey were initiated to solicit more public input. After those efforts, the search firm, in conjunction with a committee of Harbor Commissioners, reviewed candidates and subsequently brought the top applicants before the entire Harbor Commission in a closed session meeting for interviews. The Harbor Commission then presented their top candidates to Mayor Garcetti for his review and consideration, leading to Mayor Garcetti's nomination for the position of Executive Director.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates more than 830,000 regional jobs and $35 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. For more information, visit www.portoflosangeles.org.

Contacts

Port of Los Angeles
Phillip Sanfield, Director of Media Relations
310-732-3568

Release Summary

Mayor Garcetti Nominates Shipping Executive Gene Seroka as Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles

Contacts

Port of Los Angeles
Phillip Sanfield, Director of Media Relations
310-732-3568