Seaport industry veteran, Michael Poole, joins Port Canaveral executive team

Port Canaveral, FL - Canaveral Port Authority has named Michael B. Poole as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Port Canaveral, effective May 11, 2018. A well-respected seaport industry executive, Poole brings to the Port 30 years 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,” stated Captain John Murray, Port CEO.  “We are proud to have Mike join us and look forward to his coming aboard. His 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." 

Michael Poole
Michael Poole
As CFO, Poole's primary duty is to preserve and safeguard the financial assets and affairs of the Canaveral Port Authority. Reporting directly to the CEO, Poole 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.

Prior to his joining Port Canaveral, Poole spent more than a decade as Chief Financial Officer at JAXPORT, and was Deputy Port Director at the Port of Pensacola for nine years.  Poole's extensive professional experience includes as an auditor with the public accounting firm Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, and with the Florida Auditor General.

Poole holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of West Florida. He is a Florida Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Government Finance Officer.  He currently serves as Chairman of the Florida Ports Financing Commission, and is a member of the Florida Ports Council, Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development (FSTED) Program Council, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Government Finance Officers' Association.

Poole's appointment as Port Canaveral's CFO culminates a nationwide search for candidates led by international executive search firm Odgers Berndtson.