Matson Inc. has announced that Dave Hoppes, Matson Inc. senior vice president, ocean services, will retire March 31. John Lauer, vice president, Transpacific services at the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Matson Navigation Co. Inc., will succeed him as senior vice president, ocean services, effective March 31. The company also announced that Chris Scott, director, Asia at Matson Navigation Co., will succeed Lauer as vice president, Transpacific services at Matson Navigation Co., effective March 31 as part of the transition plan.
As senior vice president, ocean services, Hoppes has been responsible for sales, marketing, customer service, pricing and government services for the ocean transportation division of Matson. He has had an integral role in developing and managing customer relationships in all of Matson’s markets: Hawaii, Guam, China and the South Pacific. In addition, under Hoppes’ leadership, Matson’s Customer Support Center in Phoenix has been a key driver in customer satisfaction and is recognized for its industry leading levels of service. Hoppes’ career with Matson has spanned more than 25 years and has included positions in both sales and operations. He had an instrumental role in the start up in 2006 of Matson’s China-Beach Express; the entry into an international trade lane was the first time in over 35 years that Matson had expanded beyond its domestic services.
Lauer has 30 years of experience in the maritime industry and has spent the last seven years at Matson overseeing the company’s China service. Under Lauer’s direction, the company’s Transpacific service efforts have successfully focused on trade lane yield management and revenue enhancement strategies. He has managed an effective sales team that has attracted and retained a premium customer base that benefit from Matson’s expedited services. Lauer was promoted to vice president, Transpacific services, in 2012.
Prior to Matson, Lauer worked for APL for 19 year in a succession of positions. Some of his key roles at APL included vice president, eastern region; managing director, western region sales; and director of sales, Hong Kong/S PRC.
Scott joined Matson in 1995 as a customer service representative in Phoenix. In the past nearly two decades, he has had a series of promotions throughout the Matson organization. He was promoted to supervisor, customer service, in 1998 and was made supervisor, key accounts, in 2000. As part of a management development program, Scott was promoted to manager, sales and depot operations, for Matson Logistics (formerly Matson Intermodal System) in Jacksonville in January 2001 and promoted to manager, sales, Pacific Northwest, for Matson in September 2001. In 2003, he was promoted to manager, national accounts and eastern area sales, in San Francisco. He was promoted to director, Asia, in 2006 and transferred to Shanghai to oversee all sales efforts and activities. In 2008, he transferred to Honolulu as manager, container operations, at Matson’s hub terminal operation at Sand Island. He then returned to China as director, Asia. Scott has a B.S. in business from Arizona State University.