The Board of Harbor Commissioners approved Duane Kenagy to become interim CEO at the Port of Long Beach, California, while the search for a permanent replacement is under way.
Jon Slangerup announced on Sept. 7 that he was leaving the port to become the CEO of Mxi Technologies, an aviation technology company in Canada. The harbor commissioners approved Kenagy in a vote on Sept. 21.
“The board is extremely pleased to have Duane Kenagy serve as our interim CEO. He is highly respected by all of the commissioners, very well -regarded in our industry and well-liked by the port staff. Duane will lead the Port of Long Beach on a steady path forward as the search begins for a permanent chief executive,” said board President Lori Ann Guzmán.
Kenagy joined the Port of Long Beach in 2014 and has more than 35 years of engineering and design project management experience. He had been overseeing the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge and the redevelopment of the Middle Harbor Container Terminal, which together will cost about $3 billion.
Kenagy also worked for Moffatt & Nichol, an engineering consulting firm that works with ports in seven countries.
“I am fully committed to helping this great organization transition to the new chief executive at the conclusion of the board’s search.” Kenagy said, but he added that he won’t seek the permanent post.
He takes over the job on the week of Sept. 26 and will earn $275,000.
