Kurt Nagle, the longtime president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), announced Wednesday that he will be retiring next fall after more than 33 years of service to the port industry.
Nagle began his work at AAPA in 1985 as the membership services director following seven years at the National Coal Association and Coal Exporters Association. In 1995, he was appointed AAPA’s president and CEO, a position he has held for 23 years.
Steven Cernak, chief executive and port director at Port Everglades and AAPA’s immediate past chairman of the board, lauded Nagle’s leadership and service to the Western Hemisphere’s ports. “The association, its services to the port industry, as well as its profile and advocacy, have grown exponentially during Kurt’s tenure. He’s been adept at keeping a very diverse hemispheric industry unified, which has been vital to the overall well-being of our member ports and critical to advancing the priorities for the association’s U.S. members in Washington, D.C.”
William Friedman, president and chief executive officer at the Port of Cleveland and newly inducted chair of the AAPA board, said the process to identify Nagle’s successor will begin immediately, with the goal to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of the work of the association on behalf of the public port industry.