CSA Past Presidents - Luis A. Ayala-Parsi

Luis A. Ayala-Parsi

1984-85 Puerto Rico

Unlike almost all other CSA Presidents, Puerto Rico’s Luis A. Ayala-Parsi only served for a short period.

Luis has had a distinguished career spanning six decades forged at the highest levels of local and international maritime trade. He began working in the company as Operations Manager in 1960, and following the death of his father in 1965, took over as president. He is President of the Board of Directors and has been CEO of the company since 1988.

“Don Luis”, as he is usually called, has always been a ‘Ponceño’ (a son of Ponce), committed to the social and economic development of this city and of Puerto Rico.His professional career clearly demonstrates it. He has held the positions of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and has been a member of the board of directors of firms such as Empire Company, Ayala Warehouse, Multi Terminal Operators, and Seahorse Marine Corp, as well as director of Banco de Ponce, Director of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Agencias Navemar de Puerto Rico.

He has held similar positions in local and international companies: president of the Board of Sea Barge Line, Container Terminal Corp, and AP Properties, and in organizations such as the Ponce School of Medicine, the Ponce Free Trade Zone, the Puerto Rico Pilot Commission, the Ponce and Southern Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce as well as Rotary International.

His direct involvement at the highest levels of prominent local, regional, and international maritime associations for over thirty years have been remarkable. He was co-founder and President of the Puerto Rico Shipping Association, Vice-President and President of the Caribbean Shipping Association, and President for the Western Hemisphere Section of the General Stevedoring Council. In 1970, he co-founded the Puerto Rico Chapter, Ponce Chapter of the United States Propeller Club, which he presided from 1971 through 1973.

Luis was appointed Honorary Vice- Consul of Norway from 1973 through 1975. In 1975, he became Consul of Norway for the South and Southwest Regions of Puerto Rico, a position he held until 2018.

At the beginning of the 1980s, he was appointed member to the President’s District Export Council. He also served as member of the National Maritime Safety Association and the Board of Directors of the National Association of Stevedores during the 1990’s.

Luis A. Ayala-Parsi lives in Ponce, Puerto Rico with his wife María Teresa-Bennazar: They have one son, Luis Arturo Ayala-Bennazar, and three grandchildren.