Blue Dart Express has appointed R.S. Subramanian as Managing Director, succeeding Balfour Manuel, who will take early superannuation after a 43-year association with the company.
Subramanian will assume the position on November 30, 2026, and will serve until May 25, 2030. He is currently Senior Vice President, South Asia and Managing Director of DHL Express India, and a member of the DHL Express Asia Pacific Management Board.
Manuel will step down as Managing Director and director at the close of business on November 29, 2026. Citing personal commitments and the need to facilitate an orderly succession, he has been granted a waiver of the stipulated six-month notice period.
Following his departure from the board, Manuel will continue with Blue Dart as Senior Strategic Advisor to the Managing Director until May 15, 2027, supporting the leadership transition.
Subramanian, 61, brings more than three decades of experience across strategy, marketing, customer management and organisational development. He joined DHL Express India as Head of Sales and subsequently held leadership roles across the South Asia region before becoming Managing Director of DHL Express India in 2010.
Prior to joining DHL, Subramanian spent 14 years with Hindustan Unilever across sales, marketing and export management.
He has also served on the Blue Dart board since March 27, 2019, and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director. He is Vice Chairman of the Express Industry Council of India and a member of the Advisory Council of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce.