The Sterling Group, L.P.
Chief Commercial Officer, Gulf Winds
The Sterling Group, L.P., Seabrook, Texas, United States, 77586
Gulf Winds International, Inc. ("Gulf Winds" or the "Company") is a leading provider of drayage, transloading, and storage, serving importers and exporters globally. The Company prides itself on innovation, people, and purpose, redefining expectations for intermodal trucking. With a robust presence at major ports, including Houston, Dallas, Mobile, Memphis, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, and Chicago, Gulf Winds is dedicated to delivering top‑notch services through continuous investment in technology and infrastructure. Ownership: The company is backed by The Sterling Group, a Houston‑based private equity firm. Since 1982, The Sterling Group has partnered with management teams to grow and build winning businesses in the industrial sector. Over 75% of Sterling’s past partnerships have been with family businesses and corporate carve‑outs. Sterling excels as a partner where it can bring its operational focus and expertise to a situation. Today, Sterling has over $5.7 billion in assets under management.
Position Summary Title: Chief Commercial Officer
Reports to: COO
The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for driving revenue growth, market expansion, and customer engagement across all commercial functions. This role oversees sales, marketing, customer success, and strategic partnerships, ensuring alignment with the company’s operational capabilities and long‑term vision in the drayage and intermodal transportation space.
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of port and rail operations, containerized freight markets, and the competitive dynamics of the logistics ecosystem and should bring broad business and strategic experience beyond sales, having actively contributed to company‑wide strategy development and implementation as part of an integrated leadership team across operations, finance, technology, and commercial functions.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute a comprehensive commercial strategy that supports company objectives for revenue, profitability, and market share growth.
Identify and pursue new business opportunities in drayage, transloading, warehousing, and last‑mile logistics.
Lead pricing, revenue optimization, and margin management initiatives in coordination with operations and finance.
Drive digital transformation in commercial processes, including CRM optimization, customer analytics, and automation tools.
Oversee national and regional sales teams focused on BCOs, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, and 3PLs.
Establish key performance metrics (KPIs) for pipeline growth, conversion, and retention.
Build and maintain relationships with major port authorities, rail providers, and strategic customers.
Negotiate high‑value contracts, service agreements, and long‑term partnerships.
3. Marketing & Brand Development
Shape and execute the company’s brand positioning and go‑to‑market strategies.
Develop integrated marketing campaigns that highlight service differentiation, reliability, and sustainability.
Lead competitive intelligence and market analysis to anticipate trends in container volumes, chassis supply, and regulatory changes impacting drayage.
4. Customer Experience & Retention
Champion a customer‑centric culture that prioritizes service quality, communication, and responsiveness.
Oversee key account management and customer success initiatives.
Collaborate with operations to ensure service delivery meets or exceeds customer expectations.
5. Strategic Partnerships & Innovation
Identify and cultivate partnerships with technology platforms, port terminals, and intermodal providers.
Support the development of new service lines such as green drayage, visibility platforms, and integrated logistics offerings.
Participate in M&A due diligence and integration efforts to expand market presence or service capabilities.
Qualifications
10+ years of leadership experience in drayage, intermodal, trucking, or broader logistics sectors.
Proven track record in driving commercial growth and profitability in asset‑based or brokerage logistics environments.
Strong understanding of port operations, steamship lines, and inland transportation networks.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field (MBA preferred).
Performance Metrics
Revenue and margin growth across service lines
Customer acquisition and retention rates
Market share expansion within key port and inland regions
Team performance and commercial pipeline velocity
Strategic partnership development and ROI
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Position Summary Title: Chief Commercial Officer
Reports to: COO
The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for driving revenue growth, market expansion, and customer engagement across all commercial functions. This role oversees sales, marketing, customer success, and strategic partnerships, ensuring alignment with the company’s operational capabilities and long‑term vision in the drayage and intermodal transportation space.
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of port and rail operations, containerized freight markets, and the competitive dynamics of the logistics ecosystem and should bring broad business and strategic experience beyond sales, having actively contributed to company‑wide strategy development and implementation as part of an integrated leadership team across operations, finance, technology, and commercial functions.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute a comprehensive commercial strategy that supports company objectives for revenue, profitability, and market share growth.
Identify and pursue new business opportunities in drayage, transloading, warehousing, and last‑mile logistics.
Lead pricing, revenue optimization, and margin management initiatives in coordination with operations and finance.
Drive digital transformation in commercial processes, including CRM optimization, customer analytics, and automation tools.
Oversee national and regional sales teams focused on BCOs, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, and 3PLs.
Establish key performance metrics (KPIs) for pipeline growth, conversion, and retention.
Build and maintain relationships with major port authorities, rail providers, and strategic customers.
Negotiate high‑value contracts, service agreements, and long‑term partnerships.
3. Marketing & Brand Development
Shape and execute the company’s brand positioning and go‑to‑market strategies.
Develop integrated marketing campaigns that highlight service differentiation, reliability, and sustainability.
Lead competitive intelligence and market analysis to anticipate trends in container volumes, chassis supply, and regulatory changes impacting drayage.
4. Customer Experience & Retention
Champion a customer‑centric culture that prioritizes service quality, communication, and responsiveness.
Oversee key account management and customer success initiatives.
Collaborate with operations to ensure service delivery meets or exceeds customer expectations.
5. Strategic Partnerships & Innovation
Identify and cultivate partnerships with technology platforms, port terminals, and intermodal providers.
Support the development of new service lines such as green drayage, visibility platforms, and integrated logistics offerings.
Participate in M&A due diligence and integration efforts to expand market presence or service capabilities.
Qualifications
10+ years of leadership experience in drayage, intermodal, trucking, or broader logistics sectors.
Proven track record in driving commercial growth and profitability in asset‑based or brokerage logistics environments.
Strong understanding of port operations, steamship lines, and inland transportation networks.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field (MBA preferred).
Performance Metrics
Revenue and margin growth across service lines
Customer acquisition and retention rates
Market share expansion within key port and inland regions
Team performance and commercial pipeline velocity
Strategic partnership development and ROI
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