The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) formally confirmed Ronald J. Wendel Jr., who is currently serving as Port NOLA’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, to become the acting president and CEO of Port NOLA and acting CEO of New Orleans Public Belt railroad in June following the departure of current president and CEO, Brandy Christian, who has accepted the role of CEO of Patriot Rail Co.
Wendel, who joined Port NOLA in 2015, brings a wealth of experience to the role and is poised to ensure that key strategic initiatives, like the $1.8 billion-dollar Louisiana International Terminal, move forward without interruption.
"The Port NOLA Board and its executive team are focused on assuring a smooth and transparent process to maintain operational continuity during this leadership transition period,” board chairman Walter Leger Jr. said in a statement announcing Wendel’s assention. “We are confident in Wendel’s experience and welcome the opportunity to work alongside him and the Port NOLA/NOPB teams to drive growth and success. Simultaneously, the board is committed to ensuring a thoughtful process for determining the permanent president and CEO of Port NOLA and CEO of NOPB. We will continue engaging with the governor’s office, state officials, the maritime industry, and other stakeholders to ensure that the state’s priorities, including the Louisiana International Terminal at Violet (La.) and any additional port infrastructure projects, are given the foremost consideration to drive Louisiana toward the top of the global supply chain.”
Wendel has been a key figure in securing $800 million in commitments from future private Louisiana International Terminal operators Ports America and Terminal Investment Ltd. (TIL), the investment arm of Mediterranean Shipping Co., and Wendel has been a mainstay in commercial negotiations across Port NOLA and NOPB’s lines of business. Additionally, he spearheaded an improvement in Port NOLA’s bond rating while financing more than $260 million in public and private placement bonds to fund the Capital Investment Program, including the $140 million expansion of the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal.
"We are grateful for Brandy Christian’s visionary leadership and contributions to Port NOLA and NOPB throughout her tenure, which have set the stage for continued progress and success,” said Wendel. “I am proud to have been part of the management team that Brandy developed over the past nine years and even more humbled for the opportunity to work alongside our staff and stakeholders in a new role to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and foster sustainable growth.”
