Back to top

Image: Bigstock

FedEx (FDX) Picks New CFO, Incumbent Michael Lenz to Retire

Read MoreHide Full Article

FedEx Corporation (FDX - Free Report) has appointed John W. Dietrich as its executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective from Aug 1. Dietrich, formerly the CEO of the privately-held Atlas Air Worldwide, brings over 30 years of experience in the aviation and air cargo industries to the role. His appointment is expected to strengthen the executive leadership team at FedEx during a crucial time for the company.

Michael C. Lenz, the current CFO, will transition out of his role on Jul 31 and continue as a senior advisor until Dec 31, 2023, to ensure a smooth transition. Dietrich's expertise in both financial and operational aspects of the transportation industry makes him a valuable addition to the FedEx team.

In addition to the executive appointment, FedEx has announced strategic shifts within its finance organization to further support its ongoing transformation. Leslie Benners, previously the CFO of FedEx Office and FedEx Services, has taken on the role of leading the company's sourcing and procurement efforts. Claude Russ, the current COO of FedEx Dataworks and former CFO of FedEx Freight, is joining the corporate finance team as corporate vice president of finance transformation.

These organizational changes come alongside FedEx's previously announced restructuring plan, set to be implemented in June 2024, which aims to save costs. The restructuring will consolidate FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Services and other operating companies under a single entity called Federal Express Corporation. All operations will continue to be conducted under the FedEx brand.

The appointment of John Dietrich as CFO and the accompanying organizational changes demonstrate FedEx's commitment to strengthening its financial and operational strategies. Dietrich's extensive industry experience and his combination of financial and operational expertise make him a valuable asset for the company during its ongoing transformation.

The news of these changes is likely to have an impact on the stock of FedEx. Investors may view the appointment of a new CFO with a strong background in the transportation industry as a positive move for the company

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

FedEx currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks for investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector are Copa Holdings (CPA - Free Report) and Allegiant Travel Company (ALGT - Free Report) . Both stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Copa Holdings is aided by improved air travel demand. We are encouraged by the company’s initiatives to modernize its fleet. CPA's focus on its cargo segment is also impressive.

Copa has a stellar record with respect to earnings surprise. CPA has outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the past four quarters, with the average beat being 14.6%.

Allegiant, which currently carries a Zacks Rank #2, is seeing a steady recovery in air travel demand. In first-quarter 2023, operating revenues grew 29.9% on a year-over-year basis.

ALGT has a strong liquidity position. Cash and cash equivalents of $317.6 million at first-quarter 2023 end were higher than the current debt of $289.7 million. This implies that the company has enough cash to meet its debt burden.

Disclaimer: This article has been written with the assistance of Generative AI. However, the author has reviewed, revised, supplemented, and rewritten parts of this content to ensure its originality and the precision of the incorporated information.


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


FedEx Corporation (FDX) - free report >>

Copa Holdings, S.A. (CPA) - free report >>

Allegiant Travel Company (ALGT) - free report >>

Published in