FedEx Corp., the enormous shipping and delivery service based in Memphis, Tennessee, named Mark Allen as its next general counsel on Wednesday. Allen replaces Christine Richards, who announced her retirement in July.
Allen moves into the GC role from another, similar post. He is currently the legal and internal GC for FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. that is the world's largest airline in terms of freight. Allen joined FedEx in 1982 and has worked in Toronto, Hong Kong and Brussels. As the legal and international GC for FedEx Express, Allen has handled international legal, regulatory and security matters.
"Beginning more than 35 years ago, Mark Allen has progressed through the FedEx ranks and served in leadership roles with responsibility for every international region of the company," said FedEx CEO and chairman Frederick Smith in a news release. "His leadership and business skills, along with his vast international experience make him an ideal choice to lead our legal, regulatory, governmental affairs, and security groups."
The company declined to comment on Allen's promotion beyond the release.
FedEx, founded in 1971, employs roughly 400,000 workers and moves, on average, 13 million shipments every business day. In 2016, the company recorded $50.37 billion in revenue and $3.07 billion in operating income. Its net income for the same year was $1.82 billion.
Richards, the departing GC, joined FedEx in 1984, two years after Allen. She has been serving as executive vice president and GC since 2005. In her role, she handles international, state, federal and local regulation compliance and legal, security and government affairs matters both internationally and domestically.