Port of Portland Launches Executive Director Search

The Port of Portland has launched a search for a new executive director following the recent retirement announcement from current Executive Director Bill Wyatt. Wyatt will retire from the Port on June 30, 2017.

“Our goal in this search is to ensure we select the best leader for the Port moving forward and provide opportunities for our stakeholders to be part of the process,” said Commission President Jim Carter. The Port’s nine commissioners hold responsibility for selecting the executive director. However, the process will also include external stakeholders as part of an advisory group to the Commission and will include an on-line opportunity for the general public to comment on job and search criteria.

“Bill has been a skilled, dynamic and admired leader and it will be tough to fill his shoes, but the process we have laid out will be thorough and far reaching,” said Carter. The Port’s Deputy Executive Director Curtis Robinhold will be in the running for the position.

The Port has hired McDermott and Bull, an executive search firm, to conduct the search. The process will be as follows:

January 13-27, 2017: On-line public comment period opens to gather input regarding the search criteria and job profile. Go to http://mbsearch.com/port-of-portland-public-comment/.

February 8, 2017: Commission adopts job profile and search criteria and finalizes the search process during the regular public meeting.

Spring 2017: Advisory group executive session to interview candidates.

Commission executive session to interview finalists.

June 2017: Commission to approve and hire candidate at regular public meeting.