Port of Corpus Christi taps interim CEO in unanimous vote
Port of Corpus Christi commissioners on Tuesday tapped the port's head of finances to serve as interim CEO until an international search for a permanent replacement concludes later this year.
The seven-member commission met in closed session for more than a half-hour to discuss two candidates: port Chief Financial Officer Kent Britton and port Chief Operating Officer Clark Robertson. The commission selected Britton in a unanimous vote.
"We're extremely fortunate at the Port of Corpus Christi that we have all the talent that we have sitting right here on this front row," port Chairman Charles W. Zahn Jr. said during the meeting. "Both of these individuals, someday in their career, will be CEO. They have that kind of talent."
Zahn and Britton declined an interview request through a port spokesperson immediately after the vote. Information about changes to Britton's compensation, if any, was not immediately provided.
The vote comes after port CEO Sean Strawbridge announced his intent to step down during the commission's May 16 meeting. Strawbridge's eight-year tenure was marked by considerable growth at the port, but he faced criticism over his handling of intergovernmental relationships in the region.
Strawbridge, whose last day is Wednesday, did not attend the Tuesday meeting. On Wednesday at 5 p.m., Britton will step into the interim role, Zahn said.
Before joining the port in 2017, Britton, 54, worked as CFO of Sherwin Alumina Co. The Glencore-owned subsidiary operated a plant in Gregory but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2016.
Britton was promoted to CFO at the port in 2019. As CFO, he was responsible for the areas of accounting, financial planning, purchasing, information technology, risk management and real estate. He is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in industrial management from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Britton currently serves on the investment committee for the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries board, as a board member for the United Way of the Coastal Bend and as chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities' audit committee.
Zahn has said the port would announce its search for a new CEO on June 5 with hopes of identifying potential candidates sometime in July. The final candidate would be considered by the commission in September, meaning Britton could helm the port for at least two months.
The port hired a California-based recruiting firm to conduct the search. The search fee will be calculated as 25% of the selected candidate’s starting base salary, according to contract documents. Internal candidates — like Britton and Robertson — could apply.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Port of Corpus Christi CFO to serve as interim CEO
