The Ports of Indiana has hired a new chief operating officer, a maritime logistics executive with more than 30 years of experience in the shipping industry, most recently at the oldest stevedoring company in the U.S.
David Parrott joins the operator of the state’s three maritime ports after serving as a vice president with Metro Ports, the oldest cargo loading and unloading services provider in the country. The port authority said in a news release that he supervised facilities in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas and Minnesota and helped launch the Long Beach, California-based company’s first Great Lakes operation at Burns Harbor.
Parrott previously served as CEO of Liberty Terminals in Savannah, Georgia, and held executive roles with Green Bay, Wisconsin, freight distributor Schneider Logistics and Norwegian shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines.
“Dave brings decades of maritime operations and logistics leadership to our team and will play a key role in Ports of Indiana’s future growth strategies,” Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock said in the release. “As COO, Dave will oversee operations of our three ports and help lead initiatives to increase cargo shipments, expand property development, and launch new container operations. His extensive experience is a tremendous benefit for our team as we strive to increase the value our ports provide for the state of Indiana.”
Parrott comes aboard on the heels of near-record cargo shipments for the Ports of Indiana. 2024 marked the second highest year for annual volume shipments in its history, Inside INdiana Business reported earlier this month. Ports of Indiana has ports in Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon on the Ohio River and Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan.
Ports of Indiana also is amid a host of expansion plans.
“I’m thrilled to join Ports of Indiana and be part of a team so dedicated to growing Indiana’s maritime economy,” Parrott said. “Indiana’s ports already have an impressive record of success, and all three ports are well-positioned to pursue new opportunities along the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. It’s an exciting time to be part of this organization as it pursues unprecedented growth.”
A native of Chicago who earned a bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics from Iowa State University, he now lives in Carmel.