The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) has appointed global maritime expert Beth Ann Branch as President and Chief Executive Officer of Port NOLA and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB), effective 1 December 2024.
Branch, a highly regarded commercial strategist with over 20 years of experience in transportation and logistics, succeeds Ronald Wendel Jr., who has been serving as the Acting President and CEO of Port NOLA and Acting CEO of NOPB. Wendel Jr. successfully advanced key strategic initiatives, including the US$1.8 billion Louisiana International Terminal, during this transitional phase.
“I am truly honoured to join the Port NOLA and NOPB teams. Port NOLA plays an essential role in driving economic growth for our region and state, and I look forward to building on this strong foundation in global commerce. Together, we will pave the way for more opportunities, creating jobs and driving the economy. I’m eager to work with leaders at all levels as we continue to invest in infrastructure and secure long-term prosperity for Louisiana,” stated incoming Port NOLA President & CEO and NOPB CEO, Beth Ann Branch.
Branch comes to Port NOLA from her role as Chief Commercial Officer at the Alabama Port Authority in Mobile, a position she has held since 2021. Previously, she was responsible for business development and international marketing in the maritime division of the Port of Oakland. Her efforts at both ports have led to strategic initiatives that achieved record container volumes, significantly enhancing throughput and operational efficiency.
The national search for Branch’s successor was conducted by the executive search firm Korn Ferry. She was chosen from a competitive candidate pool due to her extensive maritime experience and proven ability to drive economic growth. Joseph Toomy, former Chairman of Port NOLA and NOPB, played a crucial role in overseeing the search process.
In addition to her maritime experience, Branch has a decade of background in program development and administration within the nonprofit sector, including managing a US Agency for International Development grant in Eastern Europe. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina.
