The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) Board of Commissioners recently appointed Beth Ann Branch as president and chief executive officer of Port NOLA, as well as CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB). These actions will become effective Dec. 1, 2024.
A Port NOLA press release highlighted Branch’s career as a globally recognized commercial strategist with more than 20 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry This leadership transition follows the tenure of Ronald Wendel Jr., who has been serving as Port NOLA’s acting president & CEO, and acting NOPB CEO. Port NOLA highlighted Wendel's success moving key strategic initiatives forward during this transitional period, like the $1.8 billion-dollar Louisiana International Terminal.
Before joining Port NOLA, Branch served as chief commercial officer at the Alabama Port Authority in Mobile. She previously led business development and international marketing for the Port of Oakland’s maritime division. Her efforts at both ports resulted in record container volumes, significantly enhancing throughput and operational efficiency, according to the Port NOLA statement.
Additionally, Branch worked in various leadership positions at Maersk for 18 years in the company’s U.S. regional headquarters outside New York, and global headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.