Richard Smith

Chief Operating Officer, International and Chief Executive Officer, Airline, Federal Express FedEx

Last Reviewed: October 3, 2026

Executive Summary

Richard Smith is Chief Operating Officer for International and Chief Executive Officer of the Airline at Federal Express, FedEx’s express delivery company, roles he has held since June 2024. That makes him responsible for FedEx’s operations outside the U.S. domestic business and for its cargo airline. He joined FedEx in 2005 and rose quickly through global trade and life sciences services to run FedEx Logistics, then the U.S. and Americas regions, and in 2022, at 44, became president and chief executive of Federal Express. When chief executive Raj Subramaniam took the Federal Express role directly in 2024, Smith’s remit narrowed to the airline and international business.

Career Highlights

• Chief Operating Officer, International and CEO, Airline, Federal Express since June 2024.
• President and CEO, Airline and International, Federal Express, 2023 to 2024.
• President and CEO of Federal Express, 2022 to 2023.
• Regional President, The Americas, 2020 to 2022.
• President and CEO of FedEx Logistics, 2017 to 2019.

Professional Journey

Smith joined FedEx in 2005 and from 2009 to 2014 was managing director of life sciences and specialty services for Federal Express. He then led global trade services as vice president and, briefly in 2017, as senior vice president of global trade and specialty services.

From July 2017 to 2019 he was president and chief executive of FedEx Logistics. He returned to Federal Express as regional president for the U.S. and executive vice president of global support, and from 2020 as regional president for the Americas.

In April 2022 he was named president and chief executive-elect of Federal Express and held the top role from September 2022 to April 2023, then became president and chief executive of the airline and international business. Since June 2024, when Raj Subramaniam became president and chief executive of Federal Express in addition to leading FedEx, Smith has been chief operating officer for international and chief executive of the airline. FedEx completed the spin-off of its less-than-truckload business, FedEx Freight, on 1 June 2026, keeping a 19.9 percent stake, and now reports two segments, Express U.S. Domestic and Express International, according to its 2026 annual report.

Education

No education is established in the sources read for this profile, so the field is left empty rather than estimated.