Port of San Diego Chooses First Female CEO

 

Coniglio, who would be the port's first female CEO in its 52-year history, will replace interim chief John Bolduc, the agency's police chief, who took over last year when Wayne Darbeau was fired over a scandal involving a summer job for his son with a port tenant.

 

"Randa is a focused, diligent and highly creative leader who consistently delivers strong outcomes," said port Chairman Dan Malcolm. "This, combined with her track record in gaining the trust of stakeholders, achieving consensus and maintaining long-term, mutually beneficial relationships truly set her apart as the best candidate for this position."

 

The 15-year veteran port official, Coniglio, 55, currently vice president of operations, was picked over nearly 100 candidates responding to a national search, said port board Chairman Dan Malcolm.

 

"When we started adding up it up, her experience and qualifications meshed really well with what we were looking for," Malcolm said. "She has a great track record."

 

Coniglio will receive a salary of $291,000, about $100,000 more than her current salary and about $23,000 more than Darbeau's base salary. Malcolm said the higher salary was based on a study of executive pay at other ports. The port board is set to make her appointment official Thursday, and she would take office Friday.

 

Hired in 2000 after 13 years in private-sector real estate development, Coniglio will take over an agency with 527 employees and a budget of $144.6 million.