Seaports veteran assumes CFO role at Port CanaveralSeaports veteran assumes CFO role at Port Canaveral

Poole brings 30 years of experience in maritime transportation, municipal finance, public accounting and financial and operating auditing.

'Sound fiscal policy and well-defined financial strategies are key to supporting our mission as a premier maritime gateway,' port CEO Capt. John Murray said, adding that Poole's 'business experience, financial expertise and leadership qualities are central to continuing our growth and vital to ensuring we remain competitive in a complex global maritime market.'

Poole's primary duty is to preserve and safeguard the financial assets and affairs of the Canaveral Port Authority. Reporting directly to the CEO, he will have overall responsibility for providing strategic financial guidance and defining and managing the port's efforts to achieve fiscal and business goals and objectives.

Experience from JAXPORT and Port of Pensacola

Poole spent more than a decade CFO at JAXPORT in Jacksonville, Florida, and was deputy port director at the Port of Pensacola for nine years. He also served as an auditor with the public accounting firm Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund and with the Florida Auditor General.

He currently chairs the Florida Ports Financing Commission, and is a member of the Florida Ports Council, Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program Council, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Government Finance Officers' Association.

Poole's appointment followed a nationwide search led by international executive search firm Odgers Berndtson. He succeeds Rodger Rees, who left to become port director for the Port of Galveston in late 2017.