John A. Smith talks about a FedEx Freight platooning demonstration in 2017.
Photo: Deborah Lockridge (video still)
John A. Smith, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Freight, will be named president and CEO of FedEx Ground on June 1. Smith succeeds Henry Maier, who will remain at FedEx as an executive advisor until his retirement on July 31.
Smith has more than 35 years of experience in the transportation industry and joined FedEx in 2000. He has served in several leadership positions, including senior vice president of operations at FedEx Freight. He became FedEx Freight president and CEO in 2018.
Under Smith’s leadership, FedEx Freight has implemented initiatives to help lead the less-than-truckload industry in technology, automation and differentiated solutions, FedEx officials said in a press release.
Lance Moll, FedEx Freight’s current senior vice president of operations, will take over Smith’s current post on March 1. Moll began his career at FedEx Freight in 1992.
Maier joined FedEx in 1986, where he held a series of leadership positions in logistics, sales and marketing before becoming president and CEO of FedEx Ground in 2013.
“Henry [Maier] has helped steer tremendous growth across our commercial and e-commerce portfolio,” said Raj Subramaniam, president and COO of FedEx Corp. “Under his leadership, FedEx Ground revenue has more than doubled, with a focus on automation and speed as distinct competitive advantages.”