Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Board Selects New Chief Executive Officer

News From The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority

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Former San Francisco Ports America President and CEO to Assume PRPA Duties Late Summer

PHILADELPHIA, Pa - The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has selected global transportation executive Jeff Theobald as PRPA’s new Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. Theobald, most recently the President and CEO for Ports America Outer Harbor Terminal, LLC, replaces James T. McDermott, Jr., who retired from PRPA in April.  Mr. Theobald is expected to assume his new duties in August.

​“After a comprehensive national search, conducted by Boyden Global Executive Search and led by Tim McNamara, head of the firm’s global transportation practice, we are delighted to welcome Jeff as our Chief Executive Officer,” said Gerard H. Sweeney, Chairman of PRPA.  “Jeff Theobald is a seasoned maritime industry executive with a proven track record.  He has extensive expertise in terminal operations, international supply chains, strategic planning, contract negotiations, and financial control and will prove invaluable in overseeing port growth plans.  He has excellent strategic vision and is joining at the right time, as so many projects and initiatives at the Port of Philadelphia are coming to fruition.”

As president and CEO for Ports America Outer Harbor, Mr. Theobald was responsible for a 200-acre container terminal facility in the San Francisco area, which included oversight of 50 management staff and over 200 union employees.  He was responsible for all management functions, including operations, finance, planning, cost improvement, labor, customer relations, health, safety, environment, and contract negotiations. He designed strategic plans for both the commercial account and capital investment sides of the business.
 
Prior to his time at Ports America, Mr. Theobald held several senior level maritime industry positions over the course of his career, most notably as a senior executive for ocean carrier APL, LTD, where he started in port terminal management and ultimately rose to the rank of Senior Vice President of Global Operations, Networks and Terminals.  During the course of his career at APL, Mr. Theobald held senior positions in North America as well as several Asian locations.  As Senior Vice President, Mr. Theobald was integral to all aspects of APL’s worldwide operations, including negotiations with port authorities, terminal operators, railroads, and labor; port investments; establishment of worldwide shipping routes; oversight of all operational functions; and direct management of over 150 employees.
 
Between his time at APL and Ports America, Mr. Theobald also spent time as a successful maritime and Transportation consultant, advising clients such as McKinsey Consulting, Port of Seattle, and the global terminal operator DP World.
 
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf was also pleased with the selection of Mr. Theobald by PRPA’s Board.  “My administration is extremely committed to the success of the Port of Philadelphia, one of the major economic engines of both the Philadelphia area and Pennsylvania as a whole,” Governor Wolf said.  “This is a critical time for the Port, with bold initiatives like our Southport Development Project and the Delaware River Channel-Deepening Project either nearing completion or hitting their stride, and in Jeff Theobald we will have a strong, experienced guiding hand to assist our board in assuring that these and other projects are successfully completed and, more importantly, deliver maximum benefits to the people of Pennsylvania.”

Jeff Theobald

“I look forward to doing everything I can to assure that the Port meets the challenges of the future and fulfills its great potential.”

Mr. Theobald echoed the enthusiasm of Governor Wolf and Chairman Sweeney.  “I am delighted that the PRPA Board asked me to join the team at this very exciting time for the Port of Philadelphia, said Mr. Theobald.  “I look forward to doing everything I can to assure that the Port meets the challenges of the future and fulfills its great potential.”

PRPA will provide further updates as Mr. Theobald assumes his duties at PRPA later this summer.
 
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The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning throughout the port district.  PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users.  Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania.

For more information, contact:
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority
Director of Communications Joseph Menta
Office: (215) 426-2600
E-mail: jpmenta@philaport.com