Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Salesforce's Marc Benioff pays tribute to FedEx founder Frederick Smith
Frederick Smith
, the founder and former CEO of FedEx, died of natural causes on June 21 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 80. Smith started
in 1973 with 14 planes and $4 million from his family.
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FedEx's current CEO
Raj Subramaniam
called Smith 'a pioneer who connected the world and shaped global commerce.' Tech industry leaders like
Microsoft
CEO
and Salesforce CEO
Marc Benioff
also paid tribute to Smith, remembering him as a visionary who changed global shipping.
Sharing a post on microblogging site X, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote:
'Fred Smith shaped the world of commerce and logistics as we know it today.
His vision, leadership, and relentless drive to innovate won't be forgotten. Rest in peace, Fred.'
Marc Benioff wrote:
'Deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, FedEx founder Fred Smith. A gentle, kind, and brilliant giant of business, he always offered me his hard‑earned wisdom and the warmest word. A Marine who led with core values and deep integrity. My thoughts are with his family. May the one who brings peace bring peace to all.'
From a college thesis to world's largest logistics companies
Fredrick Smith launched Federal Express in 1973 with just 14 jets and $4 million in family funds. The company delivered 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities on its first night. Today, FedEx handles 17 million shipments daily, operates in 220 countries, and moves an estimated $2 trillion in goods annually.
His idea of an integrated air-ground delivery network revolutionized overnight shipping and helped pave the way for just-in-time manufacturing and modern e-commerce.
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That concept was first imagined in a term paper Smith wrote while studying economics at Yale University in the 1960s.
A Marine Corps veteran, Smith served two tours in Vietnam as a platoon leader and company commander. He earned several honors, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He often credited his military service as the foundation of his business leadership, once saying the Marines gave him his 'business degree.'
Smith served as FedEx CEO until 2022, when he stepped down after nearly five decades of leadership and became executive chairman. Under his guidance, FedEx grew into an $84 billion company employing over 500,000 people worldwide.
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