In January 2020, FedEx, the world’s largest transportation conglomerate with a presence across 215 countries, was recognized as one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies. At that time Raj Subramaniam who was President and COO of the FedEx Corporation had said: “This honor is a direct result of our more than 490,000 FedEx team members around the globe living the Purple Promise, doing the extraordinary in service to our customers, every day.” No doubt the Fortune accolade was testimony to the way he and others had navigated the company to great heights.

Subramaniam joined FedEx in 1991 and has since played a significant role in the company’s growing fortunes. He has been responsible for several recent initiatives at FedEx, including revitalizing the company’s operating strategy, profitably growing its ecommerce business, and harnessing the power of global supply chain data to drive its digital transformation. Currently FedEx is ranked 45 in the Fortune 500 list, snapping at the heels of other global giants such as PepsiCo (44) and P&G (43). It has already moved up two places in the rankings done last in August 2021. 

Another elevation, therefore, was in the offing for Subramaniam and in March 2022 the company announced that he would be the new President and Chief Executive Officer-elect and Director of FedEx Corporation. He will take over fulltime on June 1 from current incumbent Frederick W. Smith who will be made Executive Chairman of the company. In a tribute, Smith says, “As we look toward what’s next, I have a great sense of satisfaction that a leader of the caliber of Raj Subramaniam will take FedEx into a very successful future.”