Former KiwiRail manager Leonard Sampson is the new commercial manager at the Port of Tauranga.

The Port announced yesterday Leonard will replace Graeme Marshall who is retiring at the end of the year after 16 years in the position.

Leonard Sampson is the new commercial manager for the Port of Tauranga.

Port of Tauranga Chief Executive, Mark Cairns, says Leonard will bring strong commercial acumen to the role and has well-established relationships with many port customers.

Leonard most recently held the position of general manager of sales at KiwiRail where he was responsible for the management and development of KiwiRail's freight markets, with revenues of $500 million.

Prior to KiwiRail/Toll Rail, Leonard worked for Carter Holt Harvey Limited and also Mainfreight Limited in sales and marketing roles.

'We're delighted to have someone of Leonard's calibre on board,” says the port CEO.

Mark pays tribute to Graeme, who joined the Port of Tauranga in 1997 after having spent almost 20 years as general manager at the Port of Napier.

In the last 16 years, Graeme has produced a significant shift in the way Port of Tauranga conducts itself into becoming a customer driven business, says Mark.