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Blue Dart Announces Planned Leadership Transition; R.S. Subramanian to Succeed Balfour Manuel as Managing Director
Leadership transition effective 30 November 2026; Balfour Manuel to continue as Senior Strategic Advisor until May 2027
The Board of Directors of Blue Dart Express Limited announced the appointment of R.S. Subramanian as Managing Director, effective 30 November 2026, subject to the requisite approvals. He will succeed Balfour Manuel, who will step down as Managing Director on 29 November 2026 following an illustrious career with Blue Dart. As part of a planned leadership transition, Balfour will continue as Senior Strategic Advisor until 15 May 2027, ensuring continuity across the company’s strategic priorities.
A true Blue Dart veteran, Balfour Manuel’s 43-year journey reflects the growth and evolution of Blue Dart itself. Joining the company in 1983 as one of its earliest employees, he played a pivotal role in shaping its customer-centric culture, strengthening its market leadership and building one of India’s most respected logistics brands. Since being appointed Managing Director in 2019, he has led the company through a period of sustained growth, network expansion and capability enhancement. His enduring legacy extends beyond business performance to the values, culture and talent he has helped nurture over more than four decades.
Reflecting on the transition, Balfour Manuel said, “Blue Dart has been the defining journey of my professional life. After careful consideration, I believe this is the right time to implement a structured succession plan that serves the company’s long-term interests. I have every confidence in R.S. Subramanian, who understands our business, respects our culture and shares our ambition. As Senior Strategic Advisor, I look forward to working closely with him and the Board to ensure continuity throughout the transition.”
Subramanian brings nearly four decades of experience leading businesses across product and service sectors, with deep expertise in strategy, customer experience, organisational transformation and profitable growth. He currently serves as Senior Vice President, DHL Express South Asia, and Managing Director, DHL Express India, overseeing operations across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan. He is also a member of the DHL Express Asia Pacific Management Board.
Associated with DHL Express since 2004, Subramanian has led businesses through sustained growth and transformation, with a focus on profitable expansion, customer experience, service quality and organisational capability. He has also served as a Director on the Board of Blue Dart Express Limited since 2019, bringing a strong understanding of the company and its strategic priorities.
Commenting on his appointment, R.S. Subramanian said, “It is a privilege to lead Blue Dart, an institution that has played a defining role in the development of India's express logistics industry. Having served on the Blue Dart Board over the past seven years, I have had the opportunity to gain a firsthand appreciation of the company's strong customer focus, operational excellence and the culture that the team has built. I also want to acknowledge Balfour's remarkable contribution to Blue Dart over more than four decades and the strong foundation he leaves for the future. As India's economy continues to grow and connect with global markets, logistics will remain a critical enabler of business success. My focus will be on building on Blue Dart’s strong foundation, advancing its market leadership and delivering sustainable, profitable growth, while continuing to create value for customers, employees and shareholders alike.”
About Blue Dart Express Ltd:
Blue Dart Express Ltd., South Asia's premier express air and integrated transportation and distribution company, offers secure and reliable delivery of consignments to over 56,400 locations in India. Blue Dart is a provider of choice for its stakeholders due to its customer-centric approach and aims to further strengthen these partnerships.
As part of DHL Group’s DHL eCommerce division, Blue Dart accesses the largest and most comprehensive express and logistics network worldwide, covering over 220 countries and territories. It offers an entire spectrum of distribution services, including air express, freight forwarding, supply chain solutions, customs clearance and other value-added services.
The Blue Dart team drives market leadership through its motivated people, dedicated air and ground capacity, cutting-edge technology, wide range of innovative, vertical-specific products and value-added services, delivering unmatched standards of service quality to its customers.
Blue Dart's market leadership is further validated by its position as the nation’s most innovative and awarded express logistics company, with recognitions including ‘India's Best Companies to Work For’ by the Great Place to Work® Institute, India; ‘Best Multinational Workplaces in Asia’ by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Asia; ‘Superbrand’; and ‘Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand’. The company has also achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and has been listed among Fortune 500’s ‘India's Largest Corporations’ and Forbes ‘India's Super 50 Companies’, among others.
Blue Dart was awarded the ‘Best In-House Legal Team’ award in the logistics category at The Economic Times Global Legal Awards 2024–2025.
Blue Dart fulfils its social responsibility through its Go Programs, namely GoGreen – Climate Protection, GoHelp – Drinking Water, Livelihood, Health and Disaster Management, and GoTeach – Education.
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Dated : September 16, 2026.
