LEADERSHIP Conversations with the Captains of Industry
Port Houston’s People Person
As a high school student, John Moseley started to dream of a career with global scope. “My dad was in the foreign service, and I went to the American School in Islamabad, Pakistan,” says Moseley, chief commercial officer at Port Houston. His best friend came from Nigeria, and Moseley also hung out with friends from Pakistan, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and South Korea. “I knew I wanted a career that took me to faraway places and international cultures,” he says. Moseley first imagined himself as chief marketing officer at a big, international firm. But life had other plans, nudging him into the world of ocean transportation. He has worked for cargo owners and shipping lines, provided third-party transportation services, and held several roles in trade development at Port Houston before he assumed his current role in 2018. We talked with Moseley about how his career took shape and what keeps him busy and enthusiastic these days. IL: How did you find your way into ocean transportation? I studied international business administration at California State University, Los Angeles. In my junior year, I took a paid internship at a customs brokerage. Eventually, that turned into a full time job. While handling Japanese imports, I was invited to attend the grand opening of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines’ new terminal in Los Angeles. I met some people there who impressed me, and they offered me a position. I started working for ocean carriers in 1988, and I haven’t looked back. IL: When you joined Port Houston in 2010, what was it like to make the transition from port user to owner? Working for a port kept me close to the international side of the business, and to the water and ships. Helping the port grow and creating value has been a great way to cap my career. Port Houston was especially appealing to me because, unlike the typical port authority, we’re not just a landlord; we’re a terminal operating port. Working directly with beneficial cargo owners, ocean carriers, and freight forwarders has kept me in the game. IL: What’s an important lesson you learned early on that has helped to shape you as a leader? As an intern, and then as a person in the lower ranks, I learned how important other people were to my career.
John Moseley Chief Commercial Officer Port Houston
John Moseley dreams big, champions diversity, relies on constant communication, and touts relationship management as his superpower.
by Merrill Douglas
10 Inbound Logistics • June 2024
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