Anthony Kuk has joined the Ports of Indiana as port director for the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor located in Portage, Ind. Kuk (pronounced "Cook") has been serving as general manager for Nexeo Solutions' Midwest operations, based in Chicago. Kuk will replace Peter Laman, who is planning to move back to his hometown in Michigan after a transition period. Kuk will start May 14.
"We're sorry to see Pete leave us but we're very pleased to have someone of Anthony's caliber to lead our efforts on the Great Lakes," said Rich Cooper, CEO for the Ports of Indiana. "Anthony's operational management and global logistics experience with a major industrial company make him a great fit for this role. We greatly appreciate everything Pete has done for the port in the last four years and we wish him the very best."
Prior to joining the Ports of Indiana, Kuk worked with Nexeo Solutions and its predecessor since 2005, directing operations for multiple facilities in the Midwest generating $400 million in revenue. Nexeo was formed in April 2011 from the distribution division of Ashland Inc. With more than 2,200 employees in operations across North America, Europe and Asia, Nexeo provides distribution services for chemical, plastics, composites and environmental services.
"I am very excited to be joining the Ports of Indiana and for the opportunity to manage one of the premier ports on the Great Lakes," Kuk said. "Indiana has a tremendous transportation system, an excellent business climate and a strong economic development focus, all of which create many exciting opportunities for a port. I look forward to getting to know the port's businesses and the local community so I can better understand how the port can continue to help grow business in this region."
Prior to joining Nexeo and Ashland, Kuk held leadership roles for Unisource Worldwide Inc., Consolidated Freightways and Preston Trucking Co., all in the Chicago area. He is a graduate of Benedictine University where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and will be receiving an MBA from DePaul University in the very near future. Kuk will be relocating to Northwest Indiana from the Chicagoland area with his family.
The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority that operates a system of three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. The mission of the Ports of Indiana is to develop and maintain a world-class port system that operates as an agile, strategically-driven, self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indiana's economy. The Ports of Indiana manages approximately 2,600 acres of property along the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, and has 800 acres available for future development. For more information, visit www.portsofindiana.com.