Georgia Ports Authority has announced the appointments of Flavio Batista as Chief Commercial Officer and Rob Dooley as Chief Financial Officer.
The appointments reflect a succession plan put in place in 2023 for the 30 June 2024 retirement of Chief Financial Officer Michaela Thompson and for the current Chief Commercial Officer Cliff Pyron to step into a GPA advisor role.
“Cliff and Michaela have been tremendous assets to the Georgia Ports Authority, setting a high standard in professionalism and world-class customer care for our organisation,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch.
“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 scored record successes and grown 73 per cent with an 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.
Flavio Batista, joined GPA as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in January 2023 and came to GPA from the ocean carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WW) Group that provided logistics solutions for manufacturers of cars, trucks, heavy equipment and specialised cargo.
At WW, Batista served most recently as senior vice president and head of Americas sales, leading ocean and logistics commercial development and customer relations in the US, Canada, Mexico and Latin America, based in New Jersey.
Prior to that position, he was Executive Vice President and Head of commercial activities for Europe, Africa and the Middle East at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, based in Antwerp, Belgium.
“Flavio’s global experience and his role as a former customer of international ports gives him a deep understanding of the needs of ocean carriers, BCOs, car manufacturers and our integrated supply chain partner ecosystem here in Georgia,” Lynch added.
“He and Cliff have worked very closely since he joined to ensure a smooth handover for all our customers during this 18-month period.”
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“Our goal is to keep our customers and our supply chain partners competitive year-in, year-out with our national gateway ports and make it easy to do business with GPA. We have a long-term view and plan to support our customer growth with the nation’s best port infrastructure, future capacity and $4.5 billion investment planned,” Batista said.
He will lead international marketing, business development, and the commercial performance toward beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), ocean carriers, RoRo carriers, auto manufacturers, non-containerised trade, and supply chain partners.
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Michaela Thompson joined Georgia Ports 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 (LBOs), bond issues, credit union management, benefit plans administration and enterprise resource planning projects.
Thompson also served on the boards of the Georgia Pension Trustees and the Georgia Government Financial Officers Association (GGFOA).
“I would like to personally thank Michaela for her steady leadership in the Finance Department and the work she has done to maintain GPA’s sterling reputation and AAA financial rating,” Lynch said.
“We wish her the best in her retirement and thank her for her succession planning role that ensured a smooth transfer of knowledge to Rob during this eleven-month transition period.”
Rob Dooley joined GPA in August 2023 as Senior Director of Finance bringing extensive experience from the public and private sector working for companies like Northrup Grumman, Integra Connect, and Sontiq, (formerly called EZShield).
“Rob brings the financial acumen and business sense with customers we need to keep growing and preparing for the future. His impeccable accounting credentials, focus on service and analysing financial data to improve operational functions make him a perfect fit for GPA’s future trajectory,” Lynch said.
“GPA’s port master plan, decision-making, leadership and Board of Directors – who are all successful business leaders from the private and public sector – have created excellent market momentum and I’m excited to lead the CFO function in this journey,” Dooley said.
Earlier this year, the GPA provided an update to representatives from neighbouring counties and consumers regarding the Blue Ridge Connector’s future expansion.
