Prince Rupert Port Authority CEO retires after 25 years

Don Krusel, the president and chief executive officer of the Prince Rupert Port Authority, will retire, effective immediately, and Joe Rektor, the port authority’s chief financial officer, will assume the role of interim president and CEO.    After leading the organization for 25 years, Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Don Krusel is retiring, the port announced Sept. 11.
   Krusel’s departure is effective immediately. The port authority’s chief financial officer, Joe Rektor, is assuming the role of interim president and CEO while a search for a permanent replacement for Krusel is initiated.
   Krusel, who had been the port authority’s president and CEO since 1992, joined the organization in 1987 as Chief Financial Officer. Among the accomplishments during his tenure was the recently completed conversion of the port’s Fairview Terminal from a forest and agri-products facility to one of the fastest growing container terminals in North America.
   Also under his watch, a number of foundational port projects were completed, including the development of the Northland Cruise Terminal, Westview Wood Pellet Export Terminal, Ridley Island Road Rail Utility Corridor and Ridley Island project cargo facility.
   “I am proud of the tremendous accomplishments and growth that have taken place at the port and community of Prince Rupert over the last decade,” Krusel said in a prepared statement. “With the completion of the recent expansion project to make Fairview Container Terminal the second largest terminal in Canada, and the port well positioned for another decade of exceptional growth, it is an appropriate moment to announce my retirement from the Port and pass the leadership to a new generation.”
   PRPA Board Chair Bud Smith attributed the northern British Columbia port’s recent success to Krusel’s vision of Prince Rupert’s potential.
   “Don saw the need for an innovative gateway model that could benefit trade between Canada and Asia, and he led the way in sharing his vision about how Prince Rupert could accomplish that,” Smith said. “We are truly grateful for his leadership, and I know the board, employees and the community join me in wishing Don every success in his future.”
   Despite the successes, the Port of Prince Rupert’s total annual throughput has declined in each of the past three years, falling to about 21 million tons in 2014, then just under 20 million the following year and between 18 and 19 million last year, according to port data. Shipments of coal and grain, as well as the number of cruise passengers, have particularly slipped in the past three years, statistics show.