Personnel: Houston

The Houston Port Commission on January 31 accepted the resignation of Leonard Waterworth as executive director of the Port of Houston and confirmed the appointment of Roger Guenther as his successor, effective immediately.

Port of Houston Authority: Waterworth Steps Down; Guenther Appointed  Executive Director

Colonel Leonard Waterworth announced January 31 that he was stepping down as executive director of the Port of Houston Authority, effective immediately.

Col. Waterworth advised the port commission that he had accepted the role for two years, to help the port authority through recent transitions and to use his U.S. Army Corps of Engineers background to help obtain permits to deepen and widen the port authority's container terminal channels. Having completed those matters, he said that that he wanted to pursue other opportunities, including personal travel.

In making his announcement at the January 31 port commission meeting, he stated: "I take pride in our accomplishments on my two-year anniversary with the port authority. I knew I could provide leadership stability during a transitional period for the port authority, but as a team we have achieved so much more."

He went on to say: "Under the combined leadership of the Port Commission and management, the port authority has increased revenues and profitability to record levels. We obtained the first long-term commitments with two cruise lines to use the Bayport Cruise Terminal for its intended purpose. And, maybe most importantly, working with the Army Corps of Engineers, we are on the verge of obtaining the necessary permits to prepare our container terminals for the larger ships we will see from the Panama Canal expansion, and we achieved this objective in about half the expected time."

Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria congratulated Col. Waterworth on his service: "My fellow port commissioners and I are grateful to the colonel for his steady leadership and his service to the port authority during his tenure. He worked effectively on many endeavors including operational matters and the federal permit to deepen and widen the Bayport and Barbours Cut Channels. We are proud of what has been accomplished during the past two years, and the Port Commission wishes Len the very best in his future endeavors."

Chairman Longoria further announced that the port commission had appointed Roger Guenther, the port authority’s deputy executive director of operations, as its executive director, saying: "Given his background and experience, the growth in our business under his operational leadership, and his long and positive service for the Port of Houston Authority, we are confident that Mr. Guenther is the right choice as successor to lead the institution as we move forward."

American Association of Port Authorities
Asociación Americana de Autoridades Portuarias
1201 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 860, Washington, D.C. 20024
E: info@aapa-ports.org
W: www.aapa-ports.org