Port Houston announced the appointment of two experienced executives to its leadership team following a nationwide search: Eric Casey as Chief Operating Officer and Parker Harrison as Incoming Chief Legal Officer.
CEO Charlie Jenkins commented that Eric and Parker are exceptional individuals, and he’s confident their contributions will drive meaningful progress for the organization and the region.
Casey previously served as Executive Vice President, Global Ports at Cold Summit Development, and held leadership roles including CEO of the Port of Wilmington, DE, and Vice President at Virginia International Terminals.
A US Marine Corps veteran with 26 years of service, Casey also held director-level positions at Maersk Line, where he led initiatives in operations, emerging markets, and business development.
Casey said that Port Houston plays a crucial role in global trade and is essential to the economic strength of the region and the nation.
Casey holds an MBA from the Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary, a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from The Ohio State University,
Lean certification from the University of Michigan, and a Six Sigma Master Black Belt from Texas Tech University. Casey succeeds longtime COO Tom Heidt, who retired earlier this year.
Parker Harrison is a recognized leader in maritime law, enterprise risk management, and insurance.
She joins Port Houston from Crowley Maritime, where she served most recently as Chief Legal and Risk Officer and Corporate Secretary.
Harrison has successfully led complex legal matters and regulatory initiatives, and earlier in her career, she managed global liability claims at Shipowners’ Claims Bureau, Inc., managers of the American Steamship Owners Mutual P&I Club. She also practiced admiralty and maritime law at Chaffe McCall, LLP.
Harrison said that Port Houston is a driving force in the maritime industry and a key contributor to the national economy.
Harrison holds a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Tulane Law School, where she earned a Certificate in Maritime Law and was awarded the Lemle Kelleher Award in Admiralty. She also completed the civil law curriculum.
Harrison earned both a Master of Arts in Italian and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian and German from the University of Virginia. Harrison will assume the CLO role from Erik Eriksson, who plans to retire in the coming months.
