Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Port of Vancouver Announcement

Port Metro Vancouver Board Elects Craig Neeser as Chair

VANCOUVER, Jan. 25 /CNW/ - Today, Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) Board of Directors elected Mr. Craig Neeser as its incoming Chair effective March 1, 2011. Mr. Neeser joined the Port Metro Vancouver Board in August 2009, and is serving his first term of three years, ending August 30, 2012. He served most recently in the positions of Chair of the Major Capital Projects Committee and Member of the Governance/Conduct Committee.

Mr. Neeser replaces outgoing Chair Sarah Morgan-Silvester, the Province of British Columbia's appointee, whose term of office expires on February 28, 2011.

"On behalf of Port Metro Vancouver's Board of Directors, I want to thank Ms. Morgan-Silvester for her leadership in overseeing the integration of the three Lower Mainland port authorities, and her wise counsel throughout her time as a board member and Chair of one of Port Metro Vancouver's predecessor organizations and as Port Metro Vancouver's first Chair," said Mr. Neeser.

Mr. Neeser is past president of Weyerhaeuser and senior vice-president, International Group. He began his career with MacMillan Bloedel as a management trainee in 1977. Over the years he advanced to more senior positions in sales and marketing, building materials and solid wood. Following the company's merger with Weyerhaeuser Company, Mr. Neeser served as vice-president, British Columbia, and later as president, Canada.

Mr. Neeser has served on the board of directors of the Council of Forest Industries of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Global Forest Partners, Maynards Advisory Board, and the Vancouver Aquarium, and is past chair of the Coast Forest Lumber Association.

Mr. Neeser holds a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry management from the University of Alberta and has completed the advanced management program at Harvard.

Port Metro Vancouver's Board of Directors is composed of 11 members: one federal appointee; one BC provincial appointee; one appointee for the Prairie Provinces Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; one municipal appointee; and, seven port user appointees.

Port Metro Vancouver trades $75 billion in goods annually with more than 160 trading economies, generating across Canada an estimated 129,500 jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, and $10.5 billion in GDP.