Richard W. Smith
Chief Operating Officer, International, and Chief Executive Officer, Airline
FedEx
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Richard W. Smith is the chief operating officer, International, and chief executive officer, Airline, FedEx. He also serves on the eight-person executive committee, which sets the direction for the FedEx enterprise. Immediately prior, Richard served as president and CEO, FedEx Express.
From 2019 to 2022, Smith served as regional president of the Americas, which includes U.S. domestic, Canada, and Latin America & the Caribbean, and executive vice president of global support for FedEx Express. In this role, Smith oversaw FedEx responsibilities as part of the U.S. government’s COVID-19 response task force and the successful distribution of roughly half of all COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.
In December 2020, he testified before the U.S. Senate about the transportation industry’s preparations for vaccine distribution. He also led efforts to begin the transformation to an all-electric vehicle fleet at FedEx in support of the company’s 2040 sustainability goals. Smith, who joined FedEx in 2005, has previously served as the president and CEO of FedEx Logistics. His FedEx career also includes a series of leadership positions in life sciences/healthcare, network planning, and customer solutions, including serving as vice president of global trade services and managing director of life sciences and specialty services.
Smith is on the board of governors for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the board of directors of Airlines For America. He is a past chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce and serves on its Chairman’s Circle Board.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Smith earned his undergraduate degree from George Washington University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Richard W. Smith is the chief operating officer, International, and chief executive officer, Airline, FedEx. He also serves on the eight-person executive committee, which sets the direction for the FedEx enterprise. Immediately prior, Richard served as president and CEO, FedEx Express.
From 2019 to 2022, Smith served as regional president of the Americas, which includes U.S. domestic, Canada, and Latin America & the Caribbean, and executive vice president of global support for FedEx Express. In this role, Smith oversaw FedEx responsibilities as part of the U.S. government’s COVID-19 response task force and the successful distribution of roughly half of all COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. In December 2020, he testified before the U.S. Senate about the transportation industry’s preparations for vaccine distribution. He also led efforts to begin the transformation to an all-electric vehicle fleet at FedEx in support of the company’s 2040 sustainability goals.
Smith, who joined FedEx in 2005, has previously served as the president and CEO of FedEx Logistics. His FedEx career also includes a series of leadership positions in life sciences/healthcare, network planning, and customer solutions, including serving as vice president of global trade services and managing director of life sciences and specialty services.
Smith is on the board of governors for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the board of directors of Airlines For America. He is a past chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce and serves on its Chairman’s Circle Board.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Smith earned his undergraduate degree from George Washington University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.