Ports veteran Vanderbeek signs on with Bermello Ajamil

Michael Vanderbeek, who's held senior roles at Massport and Port Everglades, joined Bermello Ajamil & Partners as director, ports & maritime.

'Michael is an excellent addition to B&A and we are looking forward to having him on board,' said his new boss, Mark Ittel, svp, ports & maritime.  Vanderbeek, who has more than 10 years of experience in the ports and maritime industries, joins B&A from the Massachusetts Port Authority in Boston, where he served as deputy port director for New England’s busiest seaport. There he played a leading role in growing cruise and cargo volumes by more than 30% each, setting new records for both lines of business and increasing Massport’s annual maritime revenue by more than $10m over three years. Vanderbeek also was instrumental in moving forward several of Massport’s strategic initiatives including the Flynn Cruiseport Boston and Conley Container Terminal master plans. 'Michael is a focused, results-oriented executive who combines solid experience in every facet of port management and marketing with a global perspective and a commitment to effective, sustainable solutions,' said Luis Ajamil, president and ceo, B&A. 'He will provide outstanding leadership as B&A continues to build on its prolific, highly successful achievements in this multifaceted industry.' Previously, Vanderbeek was director of business development at Port Everglades, the 12th-busiest container port in the US and second-busiest cruise port in the world. Earlier, he served in a series of management positions with responsibilities in strategic planning, budgeting, operations and business development at the Port of Long Beach, the second-busiest container port in North America. He also oversaw administration of Foreign Trade Zone #50 and led economic development initiatives that helped facilitate more than $86m in new trade for the region, focusing on small and green technology businesses. An American Association of Port Authorities-certified Professional Port Manager, Vanderbeek has been a key member of the Cruise Canada/New England Alliance and affiliated with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. At B&A, he'll work primarily from Boston and New York but go wherever the project requires.