Mr. Rajesh Subramaniam
B.Tech., 1987, Chemical Engineering

Mr. Rajesh Subramaniam graduated as a Chemical Engineer from IIT Bombay in 1987. He earned his Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University and MBA from the University of Texas in Austin.

Immediately after completing his MBA, he joined the Marketing team in Memphis in 1991. His leadership skills took him to Hong Kong, where he oversaw Marketing in Asia-Pacific. Mr. Subramanian then took over as the President of FedEx Express in Canada before moving back to the U.S. as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for FedEx Services.

He now serves as the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President for FedEx Corp. In this role, he sits on the FedEx Strategic Management Committee, a small group of the company’s top leadership, responsible for the company’s strategic direction around the world. At FedEx, Mr. Subramanian is also responsible for several landmark developments, including the first-ever global brand campaign, and a significant expansion of the company’s global product portfolio. Under his leadership, FedEx retains an enviable position as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies.

Mr. Subramaniam’s international leadership experience, keen business insights and focus on globalization have contributed to the success of FedEx, and continue to provide a roadmap for future growth initiatives. He champions what is often referred to as the “FedEx Access Effect,” the idea that FedEx stands at the intersection of the physical and virtual infrastructure required for global commerce, therefore helping businesses to flourish, economies to prosper, and standards of living to improve.

Mr. Subramaniam has won many honours and awards. Prominent ones include the President’s Award, given by the Prime Minister of Canada in 2006 for his work encouraging a more open relationship between India and Canada and the EXCEL award from the International Association of Business Communications. He is a four-time recipient of the FedEx Five Star award, the company’s highest honor. He serves on several advisory boards, including the U.S.-India Business Council; First Horizons National Corporation; Orpheum Theatre of Memphis; American Heart Association and Fogelman Center of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis. He has been inducted into the Fogelman Center of Business and Economics Hall of Fame.

Special Memories

I enjoyed the intense competition among my bright mates at IIT I won my skills and life-long love for learning here. The Institute gifted me friendships that have endured through the years. In addition, I am extremely grateful for the level of expertise and knowledge demonstrated by the faculty, noting that the teachers constantly challenged students to think and perform.