The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board of Directors approved the appointment of Thomas J. Winston as the new President and CEO of the Port Authority effective September 1, 2019. Thomas is currently serving as the organization’s Vice President, Administration and Chief Financial Officer.
Thomas will succeed Paul L. Toth, Jr., the Port Authority’s current President and CEO, who announced his retirement in September 2018. Paul has been with the Port Authority for 32 years, serving as the President and CEO since 2009.
“During the past ten years under Paul’s leadership, the Port Authority has experienced tremendous growth and has made a positive impact on the community,” said John Szuch, Chairman of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board of Directors. “Thomas Winston has worked closely with Paul and has been groomed for this position since he was hired by the Port Authority in 2010. He understands all aspects of the Port Authority’s operations and I have full confidence that he will do an outstanding job as President and will continue the momentum we are experiencing as an organization.”
Thomas was hired by the Port Authority on June 28, 2010, as Director of Finance and Administration, where he served in that capacity until being promoted to his current role as Vice President, Administration and Chief Financial Officer on June 22, 2011. As Vice President, Administration and Chief Financial Officer, Thomas is responsible for leading the Port Authority’s accounting, finance, legal, IT and human resources departments, its financial and strategic planning practices, as well as its relationship with lending institutions, corporations and the business development community to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies. Thomas also works directly with the current President and CEO on strategic initiatives and business development endeavors to spur economic growth within the region and across the state.
“I am honored to be selected as the next President and CEO of the Port Authority,” said Thomas Winston. “Working closely with Paul for the past nine years has provided me with keen knowledge and firsthand experience necessary to step into this important role. I am committed to making sure this organization continues to provide the resources and expertise needed to continue to move this community forward.”
Prior to joining the Port Authority, Thomas held positions of increasing responsibilities in various business capacities with several diverse industry leading corporations including Owens Corning, Pfizer Inc., and Nuveen Investments. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Thomas earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1992 and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from Loyola University Chicago in 1998.
Thomas is a member of the internationally recognized Association for Finance Professionals and serves on the Board of Trustees for ProMedica, Imagination Station, Boys & Girls Club of Toledo, Toledo Opera Association, Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council, Lourdes University and The Toledo Museum of Art.
