The Steamship Authority is ushering in a new era after its board decided to forgo promoting an internal candidate to lead the operation.
The Steamship Authority board gathered virtually on Thursday morning for one purpose: choosing the next general manager of the ferry line, a much-anticipated decision months in the making. Nearly a week after interviewing two general manager candidate finalists — Steamship COO Mark Amundsen and Alex Kryska, COO of San Francisco–based ferry service PROP — the board unanimously voted to select Kryska as the next general manager to replace Bob Davis.
Kryska’s experience in the maritime industry includes a stint as a fleet operations manager with Military Sealift Command in Washington, D.C. But his leadership experience is varied beyond the maritime industry, and largely focused in California. He was also general manager of ACME Technologies, a software company in San Francisco that offers a cloud-based ticketing and membership platform, and directed Covenant Aviation Security’s operations and business services at the San Francisco International Airport.
Peter Jeffrey, Falmouth Steamship board representative, said the decision demonstrates the board was “moving forward with change.”
“This is a great opportunity for culture change,” said Jeffrey, noting that choosing Kryska also allows the authority “not to deplete our bench.” Amundsen has indicated that he would stay aboard as COO if he were not selected.
Board members said it was a tough choice between the two candidates.
“It is difficult,” Jim Malkin, Martha’s Vineyard Steamship representative, said. He noted he was “heartened” that Amundsen was willing to stay with the ferry line even if he weren’t promoted to the top position.
Bob Jones, Barnstable Steamship board representative, initially voted against Kryska in favor of Amundsen. He highlighted Amundsen as being an experienced maritime professional with “a lot of ideas of moving the Authority forward.” Jones ultimately changed his vote so the board could show a united front in its decision.
The ferry line will now be entering into contract negotiations with Kryska. Davis will be staying on as general manager until the end of December, and then transition to a senior advisor role, not to exceed 18 months.
Steamship officials had conducted a lengthy hiring process after Davis announced last fall he would be stepping down as general manager, a decision that followed heavy pushback on how the ferry line was being run.
The board tapped headhunting firm Faststream Recruitment Group in March to find candidates. While more than 130 candidates were reviewed, the board noted that heavy public criticism toward the ferry line led some individuals to withdraw their applications.
Malkin thanked the search committee and the board in the arduous hiring process. He especially thanked the ferry line staff.
“Transition in any organization is difficult and unsettling, and I think that throughout this entire process, our staff has stayed focused on running the Steamship Authority, providing a service to and from the Islands, and throughout this whole thing has been very, very professional,” Malkin said.
Thank goodness!
I didn’t know the steamship had a manger! But it is getting close to Christmas!
A few things are wrong. Bob Jones changes his vote to show a united front but that is cosmetic. He wanted Amundsen. Bob Davis staying as senior advisor means what? He will micromanage the new CEO and have the ear of the Board due to his tenure there. Not good. Kryska should get a clear definition of his authority commensurate with his accountability. Pay Davis and get him out of there. He will meddle. This setup is wrong for many reasons. You have the Board, you have Davis, and you have citizens of MV interfering. The dynamic is unhealthy.
I think it is up to the head hunting consultant or firm to write a CLEAR job description.
Not only of the manager’s job but also for Davis as a de facto consultant.
Really, after a three-month transition Davis should bow out and get out of the new man’s way.
I gotta admit, I’m with Andy on this one. Davis must go, completely. Not at the end of December, not 18 months from the end of December, but now. Then get rid of that god awful ticket office smack dab in the middle of the parking lot.
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