The Jacksonville Port Authority Board of Directors unanimously voted Monday to hire longtime JAXPORT executive Eric Green as Chief Executive Officer.
“Eric Green has demonstrated in his period of service to JAXPORT, and his period as interim CEO, that he will be a great asset to this port as CEO,” said Chairman Jim Citrano in an email to WJCT News.
Green joined the port in 2005 and served previously as Senior Director, Government and External Affairs.
He led the effort to gain authorization and funding to start the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening project.
The dredging is scheduled to take the federal shipping channel to 47 feet and is expected to begin construction in the next few months.
Navigating opposition to river dredging will be among Green's first challenges as CEO. In an interview on WJCT's First Coast Connect last week, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman said JAXPORT is trying to pull an end-around regarding its new proposal to dredge the river channel.
She said there has not been enough public scrutiny of the plan.
“Eric has earned the right to be the next CEO of JAXPORT,” Board member Joe York said during the board’s discussion.
Prior to joining JAXPORT, Green served in leadership roles for the City of Jacksonville, including Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.
A Jacksonville native, Green is also a member of the Board of Directors of the JAX Chamber and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, according to biographical information provided by JAXPORT.
