BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Port of Bellingham Commission has voted to terminate the employment of Rob Fix as the port’s executive director.

The vote on Tuesday was 2-1 in favor of reaching a mutual separation agreement with Fix, with commissioners Michael Shepard and Ken Bell voting for termination and Bobby Briscoe voting no.

Briscoe told the meeting that Fix deserves a lot of credit for his work with the Port.

“I’ll keep it simple, Rob Fix is one of the main reasons the Port of Bellingham is where is today and has jumped all the hurdles we have to this point in time,” Briscoe said.

Bell echoed Briscoe’s praise of Fix, but said they need new leadership heading into the future.

“We have a need right now I think for the Port to have a new vision and a different direction,” Bell said. “From my standpoint, this is not a reflection on the past, it is more a reflection on what we want to see moving forward.”

Shepard also spoke glowingly about the work Fix has done but said the commission needed to exercise its ability to ensure the port has the right leadership in place.

Fix was appointed executive director in 2012 after serving as the port’s chief financial officer and deputy director.

He’s worked for the Port of Bellingham since 2008.

The Port Commission has appointed Tiffany DeSimone, the Port’s current Director of Maritime, to serve as Interim Executive Director.