Raj Subramaniam

Raj Subramaniam
Subramaniam in 2023
Raj Subramaniam
Born	Rajesh Subramaniam 14 9, 1967
Birthplace	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	President and CEO, FedEx Corporation
Known for	Leading FedEx Corporation as CEO
Education	University of Texas at Austin (MBA)
Website	[https://www.fedex.com/en-us/about/leadership/raj-subramaniam.html Official site]

Rajesh "Raj" Subramaniam (born September 14, 1967) is an Indian-American business executive serving as the president and chief executive officer of FedEx Corporation, one of the world's largest transportation and logistics companies. He assumed the role on June 1, 2022, succeeding the company's founder, Frederick W. Smith, who had led FedEx for nearly fifty years. Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Subramaniam came to the United States for graduate studies and joined FedEx in 1991, building a career that spanned more than three decades across multiple continents and operational divisions within the company. His ascent through the ranks included leadership positions in marketing, operations, and strategic planning across Asia, Europe, and North America, culminating in his appointment as president and chief operating officer of FedEx Corporation in 2019. As CEO, Subramaniam has overseen a major organizational restructuring of FedEx, navigated shifting global trade patterns, and articulated a vision of what he has described as "re-globalization."

Early Life

Raj Subramaniam was born on September 14, 1967, in Thiruvananthapuram (formerly Trivandrum), the capital city of the southern Indian state of Kerala. His father, upon learning of his son's appointment as FedEx CEO, publicly urged him to "be humble," a sentiment that was reported in Indian media outlets at the time.

Subramaniam grew up in India and demonstrated strong academic aptitude from an early age. He gained admission to the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), one of India's most competitive engineering institutions, where he earned a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree. His graduation from IIT Bombay placed him within a network of Indian engineering graduates who have gone on to hold prominent leadership positions in global corporations. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, Subramaniam traveled to the United States to pursue further education, a path taken by many IIT graduates during that era.

Subramaniam's upbringing in Kerala and his formative education in India have been referenced frequently in Indian media coverage of his career, where he is cited as an example of the success of Indian-origin professionals in global corporate leadership. Reports in the New Indian Express noted his Kerala roots and the pride expressed by the local community upon his appointment to the FedEx CEO position.

Education

Subramaniam's educational background spans three institutions across two countries. After completing his BTech at IIT Bombay, he enrolled at Syracuse University, where he earned a Master of Science (MS) degree. Syracuse University identifies him as a 1989 graduate (G'89). He later completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

In a 2026 interview with Fortune, Subramaniam referenced his educational experiences at Syracuse and the University of Texas at Austin, but also described his years working under FedEx founder Fred Smith as attending what he called "CEO school," underscoring the formative role that on-the-job mentorship played alongside his formal academic training.

Career

Early Years at FedEx (1991–2000s)

Subramaniam joined FedEx in 1991 and built his career entirely within the company, rising through a succession of management, marketing, and operational roles over more than three decades. His early assignments included positions across multiple international markets, which gave him extensive experience in the company's global operations. According to a profile in The Wall Street Journal, Subramaniam was instrumental in the strategic planning that would later define FedEx's approach to organizational restructuring.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Subramaniam held a variety of roles in different regions, including assignments in Asia and the United States. These positions allowed him to develop expertise in international logistics, market development, and corporate strategy, all areas that would prove central to his later leadership of the entire corporation.

Leadership at FedEx Express

Subramaniam's career trajectory included a period as the chief executive officer of FedEx Express, the company's largest operating subsidiary and the world's largest express transportation company. In this capacity, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the express delivery division, which handles millions of shipments daily across more than 220 countries and territories. His predecessor in that role, David Cunningham, retired, and Subramaniam stepped into the position as part of a broader executive transition.

His leadership of FedEx Express positioned him as one of the most senior executives within the broader FedEx organization. In an interview with The Week magazine in 2021, Subramaniam discussed his vision for the company's future and stated, "This is just the beginning," signaling his ambitions for further growth and transformation within FedEx.

President and COO of FedEx Corporation (2019–2022)

In February 2019, Subramaniam was named president and chief operating officer (COO) of FedEx Corporation, a promotion that made him the most senior executive after founder and then-CEO Frederick W. Smith. Memphis-based news outlets reported on the appointment, noting his long history with the company and his experience across multiple operational divisions.

As president and COO, Subramaniam was responsible for overseeing all FedEx operating companies and played a central role in the development of the company's strategic direction. The Wall Street Journal described him as "the man behind the plan to remake FedEx," referencing his involvement in a major initiative to integrate the company's previously separate operating units into a more unified structure. This restructuring effort, which would continue and accelerate after he became CEO, was aimed at reducing costs, improving operational efficiency, and creating a more cohesive customer experience across FedEx's various services.

During this period, Subramaniam worked closely with Fred Smith, the company's founder, in a relationship that combined mentorship with operational partnership. Subramaniam has subsequently described this experience as formative, likening it to attending "CEO school."

CEO of FedEx Corporation (2022–present)

On March 28, 2022, FedEx announced that Subramaniam would succeed Frederick W. Smith as president and CEO of the corporation, effective June 1, 2022. Smith transitioned to the role of executive chairman of the board of directors. The appointment made Subramaniam only the second CEO in the company's history, following Smith, who had founded FedEx in 1971 and led it for approximately fifty years.

The announcement was covered by major Indian media outlets, which noted Subramaniam's IIT Bombay background and Kerala origins.

Organizational Restructuring

One of Subramaniam's central initiatives as CEO has been the continuation and deepening of the organizational restructuring of FedEx's operating companies. The plan, which had begun during his tenure as president and COO, aimed to consolidate the company's previously independent operating subsidiaries—FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services—into a more integrated operational structure. The Wall Street Journal had earlier identified Subramaniam as a driving force behind this plan. The restructuring was intended to eliminate redundancies, reduce overhead costs, and improve the company's ability to compete in an evolving logistics market shaped by the growth of e-commerce.

Re-Globalization and Trade Strategy

Under Subramaniam's leadership, FedEx has sought to navigate a period of significant change in global trade patterns. In a January 2026 interview with The New York Times, Subramaniam described the current era as one of "re-globalization," a concept he has used to characterize the shifting trade flows resulting from tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and the restructuring of global supply chains. According to the article, Subramaniam took over from a founder who had run the company for nearly 50 years, and since then has faced challenges posed by evolving technology and trade policies.

Subramaniam has elaborated on this theme in other forums. In a February 2026 Fortune article, he discussed how FedEx is adapting to re-globalization, including the effects of tariffs on trade patterns and the company's strategies for managing these shifts.

Technology and Automation

Subramaniam has also addressed the role of emerging technologies in logistics. In a February 2026 report by Yahoo Finance, he commented on the state of humanoid robots and artificial intelligence in the delivery industry. While acknowledging FedEx's interest in "super humanoid robots" and AI applications for the company's approximately 17 million daily deliveries, Subramaniam stated that the technology "is not ready for prime time yet," indicating a cautious approach to full-scale adoption of robotics in FedEx's operations.

Financial Performance

In December 2025, FedEx reported quarterly earnings that exceeded analyst expectations. In an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer following the earnings release, Subramaniam described FedEx as "the heartbeat of the industrial economy," underscoring the company's role as a bellwether for broader economic trends. Cramer subsequently praised Subramaniam's leadership, stating on his program that the FedEx CEO was "one of my heroes."

Personal Life

Subramaniam is of Indian origin, having been born and raised in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, before moving to the United States for graduate studies. He has maintained connections to his Indian heritage, and his appointment as FedEx CEO was a source of significant pride in his home state, with his father speaking publicly about the news and encouraging his son to remain humble.

In January 2026, Subramaniam publicly addressed controversy regarding H-1B visa hiring practices at FedEx. After allegations surfaced in late 2025 suggesting that FedEx favored Indian candidates over American workers, Subramaniam stated, "We are a meritocracy," defending the company's hiring practices as based on qualifications rather than national origin. The controversy had previously drawn criticism on social media and in news reports during December 2025.

Subramaniam is based in Memphis, Tennessee, where FedEx Corporation is headquartered.

Recognition

Subramaniam's appointment as only the second CEO of FedEx, following the company's founder, was itself a significant milestone noted by business media worldwide. His background as an IIT Bombay alumnus who rose to lead a Fortune 500 company has been cited as part of the broader narrative of Indian-origin executives reaching the highest echelons of American corporate leadership.

In October 2025, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent Washington, D.C.-based think tank, announced Subramaniam's appointment to its Board of Trustees. The appointment reflected his standing in the intersection of business, trade policy, and international affairs.

Subramaniam's compensation as CEO has been the subject of analysis. A 2024 report by the Institute for Policy Studies examined executive pay at major corporations, including FedEx, as part of its annual "Executive Excess" report.

Syracuse University has featured Subramaniam in discussions about alumni achievement. In May 2023, Dean J. Cole Smith of the university conducted a public conversation with Subramaniam about leadership and offered him as a resource for current students, reflecting the institution's recognition of his professional accomplishments.

Legacy

As only the second person to serve as CEO of FedEx Corporation, Subramaniam occupies a distinctive position in the company's history. The challenge of succeeding a founder-CEO who built a company over nearly five decades is one that few corporate leaders face, and Subramaniam's tenure has been defined in part by his efforts to put his own strategic imprint on the organization while preserving its core identity.

His articulation of the concept of "re-globalization" has positioned him as a prominent voice in discussions about the future of international trade and logistics. As the leader of a company that moves approximately 17 million packages daily, his public statements on trade policy, tariffs, and supply chain restructuring carry weight in both business and policy circles.

Subramaniam's career trajectory—from IIT Bombay to the helm of a major American multinational—has made him a figure of note in the growing cohort of Indian-origin CEOs leading major global corporations, a group that includes the leaders of companies such as Microsoft, Alphabet, and Adobe. Indian media have consistently highlighted his Kerala roots and IIT education as part of this narrative, and his father's public comments urging humility at the time of his appointment became a widely shared story in India.

His approach to technology adoption in logistics—cautious but forward-looking—has also defined his leadership style. By publicly acknowledging that technologies such as humanoid robots are "not ready for prime time" while simultaneously investing in their development, Subramaniam has sought to balance innovation with operational pragmatism.