Longtime Port of Greater Baton Rouge Executive Director Jay Hardman has announced that he will retire near the end of this year, effective Dec. 1. Greg Johnson, current port deputy director, has been named as the next leader of the port, reports WBRZ.
Hardman, who has led the port since 2006, announced his decision at a recent port board of commissioners meeting. Over the years, Hardman has overseen hundreds of millions of dollars in investments at the Port of Great Baton Rouge in infrastructure improvements, security upgrades and economic development projects. Recently released national data shows the Capital Region’s port ranked seventh in the U.S. in total tonnage at 87.9 million tons annually.
Johnson served previously as the director of business development, where he developed and implemented the port’s marketing plan, made direct customer calls, directed Foreign Trade Zone activities, negotiated leases, served as terminal operator liaison, and as assistant to the port’s executive director. Johnson was promoted to port deputy director in January of 2025. Read more from WBRZ.
