Ports of Indiana names Vanta Coda II as new CEO following the retirement of Rich Cooper

The Ports of Indiana has named Vanta Coda II as Chief Executive Officer. Vanta will be replacing Rich Cooper following his retirement, effective July 1, 2018. Rich is retiring after 16 years of working with the Ports of Indiana, and will be helping to oversee the leadership transition towards the end of the year. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ports of Indiana since 2005, after being hired as Chief Operating Officer in 2001.

Vanta has 25 years of experience in maritime and multimodal operations on the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico and Ohio River. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. During his time at Duluth, Vanta led the completion of $24m worth of infrastructure renewal projects.

“We’re excited to find someone with Vanta’s extensive experience managing operations on the Ohio River and Great Lakes to guide the continued success and future growth of Indiana’s ports,” said Ports of Indiana Commission Chairman Ken Kaczmarek. “We thank Rich for his tremendous contributions to the Ports of Indiana and we’re very appreciative that Rich and Vanta are coordinating a seamless transition for our customers and our business.”

“It’s been a privilege to lead the Ports of Indiana and work alongside a great team that has made such tremendous contributions to the state of Indiana,” said Rich. “Our success can largely be attributed to the partnerships we have developed with world class companies that call our ports home. There is no question the Ports of Indiana is in great hands, led by an outstanding group of commissioners, a superior staff committed to excellence, and now Vanta, as the new captain of the ship. I’m looking forward to watching this team take the Ports of Indiana to the next level.”

“It’s an honour to be part of the Ports of Indiana and to have the opportunity to bring my family back to our roots,” said Coda. “I have always enjoyed watching the growth and development of Indiana’s ports, and I could not be more excited about the transformational opportunities that lie ahead. Indiana truly has a unique port system that is recognised around the maritime industry as one of the premier port authorities in the country. I look forward to working with our customers, stakeholders, local communities and the Ports of Indiana team to build on this record of success.”

For more information, visit: www.portsofindiana.com

25th June 2018