Pasha Group Appoints Shipping Veteran Ray Fitzgerald as President and COO

The Pasha Group has named longtime shipping and logistics executive Raymond Fitzgerald as President and Chief Operating Officer as the family-owned transportation company adjusts its leadership structure to support continued growth.

Fitzgerald will take up the newly created role on October 1, overseeing day-to-day operations and long-term priorities across Pasha’s operating divisions and subsidiaries.

Company owner George Pasha, IV, meanwhile, has moved from President and CEO to Chairman and CEO. He will remain focused on long-term strategy, growth opportunities, key business relationships and the overall direction of the company.

“This position on our executive leadership team ensures we continue to have the structure, leadership depth, and operational focus needed to support continued growth, strengthen our execution, and position the company for the future,” Pasha said.

Fitzgerald brings more than three decades of experience in shipping, logistics and transportation. He most recently served as Executive Advisor to the CEO of Crowley Group Companies after previously serving as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.

Before Crowley, Fitzgerald spent roughly two decades in senior leadership positions at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, including as President and COO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group Companies and CEO of American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier. His work at ARC included extensive involvement with the U.S. Department of Defense and its strategic sealift and logistics requirements.

“I’ve had the privilege of knowing George for a long time and have worked closely with many talented leaders across this organization, so I’ve seen firsthand the character and commitment that define this team,” Fitzgerald said.

He added that Pasha’s ability to maintain its family-owned culture through three generations was a major attraction to the role.

“I’m honored to build on that legacy alongside George and the entire Pasha family, and I’m energized to sharpen our operations, deliver for our customers, and support the people who make those results possible,” Fitzgerald said.

The appointment comes as Pasha continues investing across its ocean shipping, port and logistics businesses, particularly in Hawaii and along the U.S. West Coast.

The company traces its roots to 1942, when George W. Pasha, Jr. began providing vehicle storage in San Francisco for military personnel deployed overseas during World War II. The first Pasha-named company was incorporated five years later. Leadership eventually passed to George Pasha, III and then to George Pasha, IV.

Today, the San Rafael, California-based company operates businesses spanning ocean transportation, stevedoring, vehicle processing, trucking, warehousing and international logistics.

Its recent investments have included a fleet modernization program at Pasha Hawaii. The _MV George III_ entered service in 2022 as the first LNG-powered containership to bunker on the U.S. West Coast and was followed by sister ship _MV Janet Marie_ in 2023. In 2024, Pasha completed the conversion of _MV George II_ from steam propulsion to an LNG-capable diesel system.

Pasha is also involved in the development of the 84-acre Kapalama Container Terminal at Honolulu Harbor through subsidiary Hawaii Stevedores Inc. The $555 million public-private project with the Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division is being developed as HSI’s new operational hub.

Pasha said Fitzgerald’s appointment will give the company additional leadership capacity as those businesses continue to expand.

“I remain fully engaged with our company and partners,” Pasha said. “Welcoming someone of Ray’s caliber as our COO strengthens the leadership leverage necessary to ensure both day-to-day operations and long-term priorities receive the attention they deserve, especially as the company continues to grow and evolve.”

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