The chairman of Matson Navigation Company — James S. Andrasick — is retiring from the company next week, the shipping giant announced this morning.

Andrasick has been Matson’s chairman since October 2008 and was the company’s president and chief executive officer from 2002 through 2008.
During his tenure at the helm of Matson, Andrasick oversaw a number of major initiatives, including the construction of four new container ships, the start up of a new China service, the growth of the subsidiary, Matson Integrated Logistics, and the promotion of “green” programs both at sea and on land.
Prior to his Matson responsibilities, Andrasick served as chief financial officer and treasurer of Matson’s parent company, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., from 2000 to 2003.
Andrasick led Matson through a number of challenges and transitions, including the 2002 West Coast lockout and its impact on Matson’s service, as well as the relocation of the company’s headquarters from San Francisco to Oakland in 2003.
That was also the year the first of four new container ships entered the Matson fleet.
Andrasick’s role in this major undertaking began with his chief financial officer position at A&B and continued as he assumed the responsibilities of president and chief executive officer of Matson. The investment of more than $500 million in new ships allowed Matson to upgrade its fleet, ensuring modern, reliable service for its core market, Hawaii, for decades to come.
In addition, the vessels have been deployed in Matson’s Guam service. Equally important, the new ships were deployed in the company’s China – Long Beach Express, which marked the entry of Matson into the international container trade.
“During Jim Andrasick’s career at Matson, the company was able to demonstrate how an American carrier operating U.S-built vessels can compete in the highly competitive China trade,” said Allen Doane, chairman and CEO, A&B. “Since the service was launched in February 2006, Matson has been consistently recognized as one of the best carriers in the world in delivering on time performance. The initiative required a major across-the-board effort at Matson and that achievement has not only contributed to its recent success, but will have an important role in the company’s growth and development in the future.”