FedEx Freight Merges Tech and Sales Leadership Under New Chief Commercial and Technology Officer

FedEx Freight has broadened the scope of Chief Technology Officer Michael Rodgers' role, promoting him to chief commercial and technology officer, according to a statement released Monday. Reporting directly to President and CEO John Smith, Rodgers will now manage sales, customer experience, marketing and communications alongside his existing technology leadership duties, effective immediately. Rodgers arrived at FedEx Freight in 2025.

The organizational shift follows FedEx Freight's termination of Michael Lyons, who held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Specialized Services and Commercial Officer. A September 2 securities filing disclosed that an internal investigation found Lyons had violated the company's code of conduct. FedEx Freight declined to elaborate further on the circumstances surrounding his departure.

The restructuring underscores how FedEx Freight views the intersection of technology and commercial strategy as the company navigates its next chapter following its separation from FedEx, which concluded in June. Rodgers brings substantial experience connecting technological capabilities with customer value, with particular strength in revenue expansion, digital innovation, data management and large-scale organizational transformation. Before joining FedEx Freight, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Chief Information Officer at Pilot Company.

During the fourth quarter ending May 31, FedEx Freight successfully completed its technology separation from its former parent. Smith highlighted two strategic technology priorities during the company's June earnings call: deploying artificial intelligence responsibly across all business functions to enhance operational efficiency, and modernizing outdated systems to streamline the overall technology infrastructure.

Building a stronger data foundation remains essential to the company's enterprise AI strategy. Smith noted during the earnings call that the organization has started foundational data improvements to boost billing precision and reduce operational friction. The company has also established specialized customer support divisions dedicated to less-than-truckload services and has developed a detailed roadmap for upgrading back-office technology systems.

In the fourth quarter, FedEx Freight generated $2.4 billion in revenue, representing a 4.8% increase compared to the same period the previous year. The company attributed this growth to elevated fuel surcharges and higher average weight per shipment.