Bill Connor, a shipping industry veteran with 30 years of experience, recently joined the Port of New Orleans staff as Manager of Northeast Sales. In addition to handling customer service requests for shippers based in the Northeast Region, the Northeast office helps the Port maintain relations with shipping lines that call New Orleans and have US operations offices in the New York area.

Connor developed his expertise in transportation and logistics working for Hapag-Lloyd, which is one of the Port of New Orleans leading shipping lines. He worked for six years as Hapag-Lloyd’s director of Sales and Marketing Area East in New Jersey. In that position he increased volumes and Hapag’s revenue management efforts. After Hapag-Lloyd merged with CP Ships in 2005, Connor redesigned the eastern sales structure and integrated the CP/Hapag combined shipping lines contracts under the Hapag flag.

“Bill brings a wealth of experience and industry contacts to his new position working for the Port of New Orleans,” says Robert M. Landry, Director of Marketing for the Port. “We’re excited to welcome him to the Port of New Orleans family and look forward to working with him to make sure that the shipping industry knows the benefits that shipping through New Orleans brings them.”

Previous posts that Connor held at Hapag-Lloyd include the Director of the Pacific Northwest in Seattle, Director of European Trade- Product Management NJ, Sales Manager - New York Area, and Manager of Operations. Bill began his shipping career at Seatrain Lines NJ as Pricing Manager for Latin America Services.

Connor lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey and replaces Mr. Bob Bambino who recently retired as Manager of Northeast Sales after managing the Port’s growth plan in the Northeast for the past 18 years.