Leadership change at FedEx Express
11 / 03 / 2022
Richard Smith. Photo: FedEx
Richard Smith, regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support at FedEx Express will succeed Donald Colleran as president and chief executive officer.
Colleran will retire effective December 31. Smith will become president and chief executive officer-elect of FedEx Express on April 1, and will assume full duties on September 1.
Smith joined FedEx in 2005. He previously served as the president and chief executive officer of FedEx Logistics, and in a series of leadership positions in life sciences, healthcare, and customer solutions, including serving as vice president of global trade services and managing director of life sciences and specialty services.
“Richard has a deep understanding of our business and has played a pivotal role in many of our most important initiatives, including our electric vehicle strategy and our life-saving vaccine distribution efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Raj Subramaniam, president and chief operating officer, FedEx Corp.
“With the outstanding executive management team we have in place to execute our strategy, including leaders like Richard, I am confident in the future of FedEx.”
Colleran has served in several key leadership roles at FedEx since he joined from Flying Tigers in its acquisition by FedEx in 1989. In 1992, he moved to Tokyo and began a 12-year global career in international sales and operations management that took him from Tokyo to Hong Kong to Toronto, where he served as president of FedEx Express Canada.
One of the pioneers of FedEx’s international business, Colleran helped lay a foundation for the significant growth in that sector of the FedEx portfolio. He then served as senior vice president of international sales before being appointed executive vice president and chief sales officer for FedEx Corp. in 2017. He assumed his current role as president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express in 2019.
“From launching new capabilities for our customers to leading our global FedEx Express team during some of the most challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Don has been instrumental in creating and executing our remarkable global growth strategy,” said Subramaniam.
Colleran will remain at FedEx Express as the chief executive officer – executive advisor through the end of December to help ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.
