Lytle in line for Long Beach port’s No. 2 position

Lytle in line for Long Beach portÆs No. 2 position The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners was expected to vote Monday to promote J. Christopher Lytle to the Port of Long Beach's deputy executive director and chief operating officer, the port's No. 2 executive.
   Lytle joined the port in 2006 as managing director of trade relations and port operations, overseeing the communications, trade relations, security and maintenance divisions. Lytle has also become well-known within the industry as one of the more publicly-seen faces of the port staff. Before joining the port, he served as a vice president of West Coast operations for French-based shipping line, CMA CGM, a major Port of Long Beach tenant. He previously held positions with P&O Ports North America, Sea-Land Service Inc. and Denmark-based APM (Maersk) Terminals.
   Lytle would be second in command to Port Executive Director Richard D. Steinke.
   Former Coast Guard Rear Adm. Kevin J. Eldridge most recently held the port's deputy executive director position. Eldridge suffered a serious stroke shortly after joining the port in August 2006 and continued to hold the position despite a lengthy hospitalization. According to the port, Eldridge left the port for personal reasons nearly a year ago.