Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Port of SD Appointing Female CEO

By Mark Edward Nero

Randa Coniglio, who has been the Port of San Diegos executive vice president of operations the past four years, has been nominated by the ports Board of Directors to become the first female CEO in the ports 52-year history.

Coniglio first joined the port in 2000 as a manager in the ports real estate department and has been promoted six times, including to the executive vide president role in 2011.

The port board is expected to approve her promotion during the boards June 11 meeting. If that occurs, she will be the permanent replacement for former CEO Wayne Darbeau, who was fired in July 2014 after a months-long investigation into allegations that he abused his power by asking for port tenants help in securing a job for his son.

At the same time Darbeau was ousted, Harbor Police Chief John Bolduc was named to the role of acting port CEO, which he will hold until a permanent replacement for Darbeau is officially named. Chief Bolduc joined the Harbor Police Department in May 2010 and prior to that, served in municipal policing in Minnesota for 23 years.

Randa is a focused, diligent and highly creative leader who consistently delivers strong outcomes, Port board Chairman Dan Malcolm said of Coniglio. This, combined with her track record in gaining the trust of stakeholders, achieving consensus and maintaining long-term, mutually beneficial relationships truly set her apart as the best candidate for this position.

If approved, she would become one of just two female heads of California seaports, the other being Port of Hueneme CEO Kristin Decas.

I am so honored to have been selected as the Port of San Diegos next president and CEO, Coniglio said in a prepared statement. We have such great momentum right now on a variety of fronts. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity at a time when there is so much positive energy around the ports projects and initiatives.