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Executive Moves: Port of Seattle, Port of Brownsville, K+N and IATA

Port of Seattle picks head of environment and the Port of Brownsville elects chairman, while K+N names global head of air freight and IATA appoints chairman.

   The Port of Seattle has promoted Elizabeth Leavitt to senior director for environment and sustainability. Leavitt has worked for the port for more than 26 years, initially as a senior environmental program manager, while for the past seven years, she has worked as the director of aviation planning and environmental programs.

   The Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners has elected John Wood chairman. The commission also elected John Reed vice-chairman and Sergio Tito Lopez secretary.

   Kuehne+Nagel International has appointed Yngve Ruud as its new head of global air freight, effective Oct. 1. He succeeds Tim Scharwath, who will leave the company. Ruud joined Kuehne + Nagel 26 years ago. In 2013, he was appointed regional manager for Western Europe.

   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has elected Willie Walsh, chief executive officer of International Airlines Group, chairman, succeeding Andres Conesa, CEO of Aeromexico. Alexandre de Juniac, chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM, was confirmed by the IATA board to succeed Tony Tyler as the association’s director general and CEO, effective Sept. 1.

Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.