Cargo Business Newswire

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Breaking News

APL's Gene Seroka named Port of Los Angeles executive director

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has appointed Gene Seroka, a top executive at American President Lines, as executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, according to a city statement.

Seroka, currently head of commercial in the Americas Region for APL, will lead a city department with a $1.1 billion budget and approximately 1,000 employees. Nearly 900,000 local jobs and almost 3 million U.S. jobs are linked to 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," Garcetti said in a statement. "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."

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

Seroka replaces Geraldine Knatz, the first woman to run a major port complex in the country when she was appointed in December 2005.Gary Lee Moore, the port's acting executive director, will return to his role as city engineer.

Seroka, who has been with APL since 1988, has more than 21 years of experience in container shipping and logistics, according to a bio on Bloomberg Businessweek.

He joined APL in 1988, previously serving as president of Americas at APL Limited. He also was vice president in the Middle East for APL, vice president of APL Logistics for Asia and the Middle East, managing director for APL and APL Logistics businesses in Indonesia, director of sales and marketing in China, and held sales management and marketing roles in the U.S.

Garcetti's nomination of Seroka will likely be approved by the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners and confirmed by the City Council in June.

For more of the Press-Telegram story: www.presstelegram.com