By Karen Robes Meeks
After 53 years in trade and transportation, Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle, 73, will retire on July 19, the port announced Wednesday.
Lytle, who will stay on as a port consultant until the end of the year, has led the port of Oakland since July 2013. Before that, he ran the Port of Long Beach. In the private sector, Lytle has been an executive with P&O Ports, APM Terminals, Sea-Land Service and CMA CGM.
“Chris Lytle is one of the best-known and most respected executives in the industry and it has been our good fortune to have him as our leader,” said Board of Port Commissioners President Ces Butner. “Our priority now is finding an able successor.”
Butner said Lytle would help in the search for his replacement and facilitate meetings with customers and Port Attorney Danny Wan, who will serve as the acting interim executive director. Lytle will also be asked to meet overseas with key clients as part of the leadership transition.
During his six years with Oakland, Lytle has been credited for leading the port through a time of tremendous growth, which has included record cargo volumes, turning the former Oakland Army Base land into the Seaport Logistics Complex and developing Cool Port Oakland, the new refrigerated cargo facility.
