Former FMC Member to Head Jaxport

The Jacksonville Port Authority selected former Federal Maritime Commissioner A. Paul Anderson to become the Florida port’s chief executive officer and authorized negotiations on a contract.

Anderson would succeed Chris Kauffman, the agency’s chief operating officer, who has been interim CEO since Rick Ferrin stepped down last April.

David Kulik, the port board chairman, said he hoped a contract with Anderson could be concluded “in the near future.”

Jaxport news from JOC:
Jaxport OKs Hanjin Terminal Contract Negotiations.

A selection committee of Jaxport’s executive officers ranked Anderson first among five candidates who were interviewed after being presented by an international executive search firm, the port authority said. Two candidates have since withdrawn from consideration for the CEO position, leaving three candidates.

Anderson served on the FMC from 2004 to 2008. Since then he has been president of International Oil Shipping, in Boca Raton, Fla., and has worked for the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Before joining the FMC he spent a decade with JM Family Enterprises, a Deerfield Beach, Fla., auto importer operating Southeast Toyota in Jacksonville. He was also a senior director with Seabulk Marine.

“We are pleased to have three extremely qualified candidates to consider,” Kulik said. “My fellow selection committee members and I separately came to the conclusion that Paul’s breadth of experience is ideally suited to the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.”

Jacksonville is the top port for U.S. mainland-Puerto Rico cargo and has been trying to expand its international business. Hanjin Shipping plans to develop a terminal at Jacksonville near an existing one operated by a subsidiary of MOL.

-- Contact Joseph Bonney at jbonney@joc.com.