The Port of
Seattle Commission has selected the port’s next CEO. Ted Fick, a Tacoma native
with decades of experience leading manufacturing organizations across the
country, was chosen to take the helm when current CEO Tay Yoshitani retires next
month.
“Ted has the right
combination of skills and dynamic leadership to help the Port of Seattle thrive
in the globally competitive environment ports face today,” Port Commission
Co-President Courtney Gregoire said in a statement announcing the move. “He
brings the fresh perspective and breadth of experience we need to help our
region generate new jobs and economic growth.”
Fick has over 25
years of leadership experience in major manufacturing and transportation
organizations – including oversight of international operations. He spent many
years working in the Puget Sound region’s manufacturing and industrial
community, beginning at his family’s Tacoma-based company, Fick Foundry. He then
spent many years at PACCAR, one of the Pacific Northwest’s primary manufacturers
holding leadership positions in both PACCAR and their division
Kenworth.
He left the
Pacific Northwest in 2000, and has since held multiple leadership positions in
transportation and manufacturing companies. Most recently, he served as CEO of
Polar Corp., a $475 million trailer and component parts manufacturer in
Minnesota. In that job, he oversaw three operating divisions, multiple
manufacturing plants and a workforce of over 2,000 represented and
non-represented employees.
“Ted’s experience
across multiple facets of the supply chain, coupled with an ability to manage
organizations through growth and change, make him the right leader at the right
time,” Commission Co-President Stephanie Bowman said.
Commissioners must
vote on Fick’s appointment in public session; the vote’s scheduled for their
next meeting, on Sept. 11, when Fick will be introduced to the
community.
Fick is expected to begin work at the port Sept. 29, 2014.
“I am honored to
join the Port of Seattle, an organization I’ve depended on, worked with and
admired throughout my career,” Fick said in a statement. “I am grateful for the
opportunity to lead the highly-skilled team of people that keep the port humming
every day, and I can’t wait to join them as we work together to generate 100,000
more jobs for the Puget Sound region.”
The Commission
began a nationwide search for a new CEO in early 2014. Current CEO Tay
Yoshitani, who joined the port in 2007, retires Sept. 30, 2014.
