Michael S. Ferguson has accepted the position of president for Metro Ports, replacing former interim Metro Ports President Norman Hauser.

When he joins Metro Ports on Jan. 5, 2015, Ferguson will have national authority and responsibility for operations and business development of each company utilizing the Metro Ports dba, which includes port operations in the west, gulf, and east coasts as well as Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada. He will report to Nautilus International Holding Corp. Chief Operating Officer Michael Giove and will be based in Fair Play, S.C.

“It is a distinct pleasure to welcome Mike Ferguson to the Nautilus family,” said Nautilus Chairman, President and CEO James Callahan. “Mike has proven himself to be a respected, successful and dynamic professional with more than 35 years of experience in the bulk material-handling industry, including leadership roles in ports and terminals, mining, coal preparation, and bulk transportation.”

Ferguson held management positions in several high-profile companies, including vice president cargo solutions at Inchcape Shipping Services, where he developed dry bulk and breakbulk terminals in North America, Africa and S.W. Asia, and V.P. marketing and business development for Forge Group N.A. (formerly Taggart Global, LLC). Prior to ISS, Ferguson was director of ports and terminals in Colombia for Drummond Coal Sales Co., Inc., and directed the company’s startup of new operation in Charleston, S.C. Additionally, he held various positions at Kinder Morgan, ranging from terminal manager, vice president of marketing and regional vice president of operations, with responsibility for up to 15 terminals. He also served in various managerial and engineering-related positions at Shell Mining Co./Zeigler Coal Co.

Ferguson holds a MBA/Operations Management from The Auburn University and a B.S. in Mining Engineering from U. of Missouri – Rolla. He is active in several coal and industry-related associations.