The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the commencement of contract negotiations with former Federal Maritime Commissioner A. Paul Anderson to fill the role of JAXPORT Chief Executive Officer.

A selection committee comprised of JAXPORT's Executive Officers ranked Anderson number one following interviews with five candidates presented by an international executive search firm. Two candidates have since withdrawn from consideration for the CEO position, leaving a ranked list of three viable candidates.

In addition to his 2004-2008 service to the Federal Maritime Commission, Anderson has held a number of high-profile leadership positions in both the public and private sector arenas. Most recently, he was president of the International Oil Shipping Company based in Boca Raton, Florida and is a former Senior Fellow of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to his appointment to the Maritime Commission, Anderson spent a decade with JM Family Enterprises, a diversified automobile business headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida, with an operation, Southeast Toyota, operating through JAXPORT’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal. He has also served as a Senior Director with Seabulk Marine.

“We are pleased to have three extremely qualified candidates to consider,” said JAXPORT Board Chairman Dave Kulik following the vote. “My fellow selection committee members and I separately came to the conclusion that Paul’s breadth of experience is ideally suited to the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. Today’s collective discussion and the full Board’s approval now pave the way for the next steps in the process. I look forward to the successful conclusion of this contract negotiation period in the near future.”