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Democrat Cordero replaced at FMC, will now lead Port of Long Beach

FORMER Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) chairman Mario Cordero is to become the new CEO of the Port of Long Beach.

Mr Cordero, still a serving commissioner, will leave the FMC next month after the Board of Harbour Commissioners voted to hire him to run the US west coast port which shares San Pedro Bay with the Port of Long Angeles.

Mr Cordero, a Democrat, was replaced as chairman of the FMC by US President Donald Trump in January with Republican Michael Khouri coming in as acting chairman.

Mr Cordero's term as a commissioner was set to expire in 2019. "After a comprehensive international search, the Board of Harbour Commissioners recognised that Mario Cordero is an ideal choice to lead the Port of Long Beach," said commission president Lori Ann Guzman.

As a former Long Beach harbour commissioner, Mr Cordero feels he can "hit the ground running", reports the Long Beach Press Telegram.

"I am so pleased to be coming back home to the Port of Long Beach during this time of dramatic change in the maritime industry," said Mr Cordero, who had been at the FMC since he was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2011, serving as chairman from 2013 to January of this year.

"Mario not only has a deep understanding of the maritime industry from his leadership of the Federal Maritime Commission, but his service as a member of the Long Beach Harbour Commission gives him extensive knowledge of the needs of our carriers, terminal operators, cargo owners, and other trade partners," she said.

Said Mr Cordero: "It has been a privilege to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission these past six years, and it was a distinct honour that during my tenure I was entrusted with the chairmanship of the agency."