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Georgia Ports Fulfills CCO, CFO Succession

[ July 12, 2024   //   Gary G Burrows ]

Georgia Ports Authority has appointed Flavio Batista as chief commercial officer and Rob Dooley as chief financial officer, part of a succession plan put in place in 2023 for the retirement of Cliff Pyron as CCO, and Michaela Thompson as CFO.
Batista joined GPA as vice president of sales and marketing in January 2023 and came to GPA from ocean carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group, which provides logistics solutions for manufacturers of cars, trucks, heavy equipment and specialized cargo. Batista was most recently based in New Jersey as senior vice president and head of Americas sales for WW, leading ocean and logistics commercial development and customer relations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America. Prior to that, he was executive vice president and head of commercial activities for Europe, Africa and the Middle East at Antwerp, Belgium-based Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics.
In his new role he will lead international marketing, business development, and the commercial performance toward beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), ocean and ro-ro carriers, auto manufacturers, non-containerized trade, and supply chain partners.
Batista acknowledged that he is transitioning from the ocean carrier business to port administration at a challenging time when container demand is easing.
“During the height of demand, many new customers began using the Port of Savannah, because other ports couldn’t handle their volumes. Our work now is to transition this new business into long-term, loyal customers, and recruit new companies to move their cargo through our terminals,” he said.
Dooley joined GPA in August 2023 as senior director of finance with public and private sector experience working for companies like Northrup Grumman, Integra Connect, and Sontiq, (formerly called Ezshield).
Batista and Dooley have “worked very closely since he joined to ensure a smooth handover for all our customers during this 18-month period,” said Griff Lynch, GPA president and CEO. “Their years of experience, dedication and customer relationships have provided a wealth of insight to our commercial planning, growth and operations, and made finding the right successors a key to our future success.”
With more than 44 years of experience in liner container shipping, logistics and the port sector, Pyron began leading Georgia ports’ sales effort in December 2008. Since that time, trade through GPA ports has grown 73 percent with major expansion of landside supply chain business partners that helped fuel this growth and attract investment in site selection by high profile companies and start-ups, GPA said.
Thompson joined GPA as director of finance in March 2011, with ascending leadership roles including financial controller and then CFO in January 2022. Her career spans public/private experience in manufacturing, private industry leveraged buyouts, bond issues, credit union management, benefit plans administration and enterprise resource planning projects. Along with her CPA and MBA credentials, Thompson served on the boards of the Georgia Pension Trustees and the Georgia Government Financial Officers Association.
Pyron and Thompson will take on advisory roles.

Tags: Georgia Ports Authority