Jeff Miles has been appointed acting executive director of the North Carolina State Ports Authority (SPA), effective immediately.

Mr. Miles brings to the job more than 20 years of experience as a senior-level manager in the port and maritime transportation industry. He spent a decade as the general manager of container operations at the South Carolina State Ports Authority. He also served as president of a private marine terminal company specializing in bulk and breakbulk operations.

He also managed intermodal logistics and terminal operations for major container shipping companies, including Maersk and U.S. Lines, and worked as a principal consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Mr. Miles joined the SPA in 2005 as chief operating officer and was promoted to deputy executive director in 2012. In those roles, he was responsible for operations at the ports of Morehead City and Wilmington, and inland terminals in Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad at Greensboro. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston, and a master of business administration from Duke University. 

In the coming weeks, a nationwide search will begin for a permanent executive director.