Port Metro Vancouver Chair Sarah Morgan-Silvester announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Robin Silvester as the new President and Chief Executive Officer.
Silvester is currently based in Australia as Chief Executive of United Group Services ANZ, an organization that focuses on property and facilities management in Australia and New Zealand.
Silvester has spent a significant part of his career in the Ports sector, working in a number of senior roles internationally with P&O Ports.
At the time of its acquisition by DP World in 2006, P&O Ports was the world’s 4th largest container terminal operator, managing stevedoring activities in more than 100 locations in 18 countries. In his role as Chief Development Officer with P&O Ports, Silvester led the acquisition of BCR Marine, a division of BC Rail, and in 2003 became the first President of P&O Ports Canada in Vancouver.
“The Board is confident that Robin has the knowledge and experience to successfully lead and grow our business to deliver optimum economic benefits to our country, and do so in consideration of the environment and our local communities,” said Morgan-Silvester.
Silvester was selected as part of a highly competitive international search that attracted a large number of excellent candidates from around the globe.
“There are few organizations that have the kind of economic impact, international reach, and scope of mandate as the Port, and it was important that we found someone with the business intelligence and global experience that Robin possesses,” added Morgan-Silvester. “Effectively seizing the potential presented by Asia-Pacific trade will offer tremendous opportunity for Canada and Canadians.”
Silvester began his career in the chemicals industry in the UK working in a range of project management, manufacturing management and business development & marketing roles. He also worked in business management and strategy roles in the steel industry and was involved in British Steel’s acquisition program.
He is a chartered engineer educated at Cambridge University. He has also completed a Corporate Finance Program at London Business School.
Robin Silvester replaces Captain Gordon Houston who has held the position for the last eight years and retires on March 31, 2009. Silvester is expected to arrive in Vancouver in early spring 2009.
Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s largest and North America’s most diversified port, trading $75 billion in goods with more than 130 trading economies annually. Port activities generate 129,500 total jobs across Canada, $10.5 billion in GDP and $22 billion in economic output.
