Micah Mallace named new SC Ports president and CEO

With a unanimous vote by South Carolina State Ports Authority board of directors, Micah Mallace will serve as the next president and CEO for SC Ports.  

Mallace served as the chief commercial officer of SC Ports prior to his position as president of Harbor Logistics, a logistics company specializing in port drayage, warehousing and transload operations, according to a news release.  

According to the release, Mallace’s salary will be $525,000 per year and he signed a contract for five years.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the next president and CEO at SC Ports. The port team and South Carolina’s broader maritime community provide port service that is unmatched, and I know, together, we will further strengthen our competitiveness,” Mallace said in the release. 

Mallace’s tenure with SC Ports was from 2011 to 2022. According to the release, during that time, he helped attract Walmart to build a new import distribution center new to the Port of Charleston. 

Mallace is a Charleston native and College of Charleston graduate, according to the release.  

“The impact of our seaports reaches well beyond the borders of South Carolina,” Bill Stern, chairman of the board, said in the release. “What we do and how we operate influence global trade and the worldwide economy. Micah Mallace understands that significance and responsibility. He has the vision, experience and nuts-and-bolts knowledge to navigate the many facets of today’s maritime industry. We are extremely fortunate to have secured him as our new president and CEO.” 

Barbara Melvin formerly served as SC Ports president and CEO, stepping down in August with a severance package approaching $1 million. Following her resignation, Phil Padgett served as interim CEO.  

“I can think of no better person to lead SC Ports and know he will bring the necessary vision to grow as a top 10 U.S. container port,” Padgett said in the release.