Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle to retire July 19

The Port of Oakland announced today that Executive Director Chris Lytle would retire July 19, after 53 years in trade and transportation.  Meanwhile, Lytle has agreed to remain as a consultant to the port through year-end.

As we reported six years ago, Lytle was wooed away from his job at the Port of Long Beach to take leadership at Oakland when it was still reeling from a fiduciary scandal that resulted in the resignation of former chief Omar Benjamin and his maritime director, James Kwon.

Since then, he has guided the port through an era of unprecedented growth that includes:

• All-time high containerized cargo volume in each of the past two years at the seaport;
• Record operating revenue for three straight years;
• Transformation of former Oakland Army Base property to a Seaport Logistics Complex;
• Development of Cool Port Oakland, a 280,000-square-foot refrigerated cargo distribution center; and 
• Two long-range planning initiatives that set the port on a course to the future.
• Enhanced bulk shipping capability to secure its position as a major ag export gateway.

Furthermore, Lytle led development of a 5-year strategic plan for the port called “Growth with Care.”  It commits Oakland to business expansion that benefits neighboring communities. 

Under his authority, the port also adopted a long-term air quality plan.  Called the “Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan,” its stated objective is seeking a path to zero-emission seaport operations.

The Port said Port Attorney Danny Wan would become Acting Executive Director pending a search for Lytle’s successor.

Lytle will also assist the port in its search for a new Executive Director.  He would also be asked to facilitate meetings with customers and the Acting Executive Director, as well as meet overseas with key clients.

Among the challenges facing the new director will be the daunting prospect of ceding away valuable terminal property for the development of a major league baseball stadium – a movement opposed by nearly all seaport stakeholders. 

Finally, it is well worth noting that the Containerization and Intermodal Institute announced it would give Lytle its Lifetime Achievement Award this fall.   

Cheers to that.