Chris Lytle named as new Port of Oakland executive director

The Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners announced the appointment of maritime shipping industry veteran Chris Lytle as the new Executive Director. While this fills a leadership void at one key West Coast ocean cargo gateway, it leaves another at the Port of Long Beach.

“Our commissioners will meet on June 3rd to discuss the recruiting process to find a successor to Mr. Lytle,” said the port’s acting director of communications, Art Wong.

Meanwhile, the Port of Oakland can begin to plan for the future as it ends its four-month search for someone to replace Omar Benjamin, who resigned amid a spending scandal last year.

The Port of Oakland’s immediate goals include transforming the Port’s maritime business.

“The future of the Port of Oakland is bright, and I am excited to be a part of the team as we work to realize its tremendous potential,” said Lytle in a statement.

He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, the second busiest container seaport in North America, a position he has held since November 2011, after having served as the Port’s Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2011. He joined the Port of Long Beach in September 2006 as one of four Managing Directors; he oversaw the Port’s Trade Relations and Port Operations Bureau.

Prior to his Port of Long Beach tenure, Lytle served as Vice President of West Coast Operations for the French-based shipping line CMA CGM, which has significant maritime and terminal operations at the Ports of Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle.