Port Of Corpus Christi Announces New CEO
The board of commissioners of the Port of Corpus Christi voted in a special meeting September 6 to name the port’s chief financial officer Kent Britton as the permanent CEO. Britton had served as interim CEO since June 1, following the May 31 resignation of the previous chief executive, Sean Strawbridge.
According to the announcement from the port, promoting Britton to the CEO position followed a three-month nationwide search. Britton has been at the Port of Corpus Christi since 2017. He became the port’s chief financial officer in 2019.
“Kent Britton has played a key role on a leadership team that guided the Port of Corpus Christi through six transformational years of milestones,” said Charles W. Zahn, chairman of the port commission. “He not only brings a keen financial mind and three decades of experience to this critical position, but also a humble leadership style rooted in listening and building bridges. My fellow commissioners and I vetted a number of remarkable candidates from across the country during this search, and Kent emerged as the clear choice to steward the Port of Corpus Christi into a future of strong partnerships with our shipping clients and the communities we serve.”
Before coming to the Port of Corpus Christi, Britton was the chief financial officer for Sherwin Alumina Company. He also previously served in executive roles at Alcoa, an aluminum company, and Blackbaud Inc., a software provider.
Speaking after the vote, Britton said he looks forward to continuing the growth and collaboration that has built the Port of Corpus into the nation’s leading energy port.
“The Port of Corpus Christi is an incredible asset to the Coastal Bend region, and I am honored to continue its stewardship with the support of our world-class leadership team,” Britton said in a statement. “As the global energy industry evolves in response to massive demand and rapidly advancing technologies, the ability to move fuels and chemicals safely and efficiently from Texas to destinations around the world will continue playing a make-or-break role in the creation of jobs and prosperity across the Coastal Bend region. The sky is the limit for our customers and this community, and we’re excited to be partners in that growth.”
