JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. - American Commercial Lines announced this week the appointments of Mark Knoy as president and CEO and
David Huls as senior VP and CFO.
Knoy, 52, is joining ACL following a 17-year career at AEP
River Operations, a subsidiary of American Electric Power Co., Inc., where he
spent the last 10 years serving as president. (Knoy is succeeded at AEP by Keith Darling.) Under Knoy's leadership,
according to a press release, AEP River Operations grew to become one of the
nation's largest and most successful barge lines.
Louis Samson, who led the acquisition of ACL for Platinum
Equity in December of 2010, commented in a statement: "We are excited to
have Mark join the team and help write a new chapter in the history of ACL -
his track record speaks for itself."
"Mark brings to ACL many years of profitable growth on
the inland waterways," said Bryan Kelln, president of portfolio operations
at Platinum Equity, in a statement. "Throughout his career he has
demonstrated the ability to lead organizations to very high levels of financial
and operational performance."
Under Knoy's leadership AEP River Operations grew from a
captive subsidiary operating with relatively limited assets into a diversified
industry leader with a fleet of 3,300 barges that transport over 80 million
tons of commodities annually, according to supplied information.
ACL operates a transportation fleet of more than 2,400
barges as well as the largest single-site inland shipbuilding and repair
facility in the United States.
Knoy stated: "I'm honored to be taking the helm of a
market leader with such a strong heritage and a deep portfolio of assets."
He added: "Platinum is fully committed to ACL's success and I am excited
to partner with them and with my new ACL teammates to help guide the company
into the future - it's a tremendous opportunity to create value."
Knoy currently serves as a Director of the US Army Corps of
Engineers' Inland Waterways Users Board; is on the Board of Trustees for the
Coast Guard Foundation and The Seamen's Church Institute; serves as Vice
Chairman of the National Waterways Foundation; is a board member for the H.T.
Pott Inland Waterways Library at the University of Missouri - St. Louis; and is
Treasurer of the Marine Transportation Council.
Knoy will succeed Mike Ryan who stepped down from his president
and CEO position last week. Paul Bridwell, chief restructuring officer, will
act as interim CEO until Knoy begins on August 18, 2011.
Huls, 45, will be joining ACL as senior VP and CFO after
having served as president and CFO at PBH Marine Group, LLC, a company also
owned by Platinum Equity.
"David is a seasoned executive with a strong financial
background and a deep understanding of business operations," said Kelln,
in a statement. Samson added: "Having worked closely with David for over
two years we know he is extremely capable and will be a strong asset to ACL's
management team."