Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has announced the appointments of Flavio Batista as chief commercial officer and Rob Dooley as chief financial officer, effective July 1, 2024.

GPA said the appointments reflect a succession plan put in place in 2023 for the June 30, 2024, retirement of chief financial officer Michaela Thompson and for the current chief commercial officer Cliff Pyron to step into a GPA advisor role.

"Cliff and Michaela have been tremendous assets to the Georgia Ports Authority, setting a high standard in professionalism and world-class customer care for our organization," said Griff Lynch, president and CEO of the GPA.

"Their years of experience, dedication and customer relationships have provided a wealth of insight to our commercial planning, growth and operations and made finding the right successors a key to our future success," he added. 

With more than 44 years of experience in liner container shipping, logistics and the port sector, Pyron began leading Georgia Ports' sales effort in December 2008.

GPA said since then, trade through GPA ports has scored record successes and grown 73% with an impressive expansion of landside supply chain business partners that helped fuel this growth and attract investment in site selection by high profile companies and start-ups.