Paul Matthews is the Chief Executive Officer of the Port of South Louisiana, America’s Leading Grain Exporter and one of the Largest Tonnage Ports in the Western Hemisphere. His tenure began in January 2022. Matthews made history by becoming Louisiana’s first African-American port director. Prior to his time at the Port of South Louisiana, he served as Deputy Port Director at Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District. He joined Plaquemines Port in 2017 after serving as the Community Affairs Manager at the Port of New Orleans.
As CEO, Matthews has been leading the Port of South Louisiana by maintaining many of the Port’s successes and growth. Under his direction, the Port of South Louisiana has focused on leading the way in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure and the energy transition. Since his arrival, the Port has secured millions in state and federal funds, renewed the long-term leases with multiple industry partners and has entered into an agreement that will foster the construction of Louisiana’s first grain terminal in 40 years, with capital investments of over $600 million and creating more than 200 permanent jobs.
During his career, Matthews helped negotiate multi-million-dollar terminal leases and facilitated the development of a private-public partnership to expand rail service while at the Plaquemines Port. He also assisted in securing millions of dollars of federal port security and dredging funds and was involved in attracting grants for critical port infrastructure projects. Matthews also promoted international engagement by establishing dialogue with the U.S. State Department, Department of Commerce, and United States trade representatives to expand port presence in developing countries in Southeast Asia, South America, West Africa, and India. Matthews is the current Vice President of the Ports Association of Louisiana and a member of the Executive Board of Greater New Orleans, Inc. He is the immediate past Chairman of GNO Inc. NextGen Council. Governor Edwards appointed Matthews to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration & Conservation, Louisiana Board of International Commerce, as well as the Southern University Board of Supervisors. Matthews was awarded the 40 under 40 Award by Inland Marine Expo and was highlighted in Biz New Orleans Magazine’s New and
Notables. He is a member of various maritime and civic organizations, the World Trade Center of New Orleans & Board of Directors of United Way Southeast Louisiana, as well as a member of several American Association of Port Authorities Committees. Matthews is a graduate of Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans, Tulane University, and received an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.