The Board of Directors of Blue Dart Express Limited has announced the appointment of RS Subramanian as Managing Director, effective November 30, 2026, subject to the requisite approvals. He will succeed Balfour Manuel, who will step down as Managing Director on November 29, 2026, following more than four decades with the company.
As part of the planned leadership transition, Balfour Manuel will continue with Blue Dart as Senior Strategic Advisor until May 15, 2027. The arrangement is intended to ensure continuity across the company’s strategic priorities and support a smooth leadership transition.
Mr Manuel joined Blue Dart in 1983 as one of its earliest employees and has spent 43 years with the company, contributing to its growth and evolution into a leading express logistics brand. Since becoming Managing Director in 2019, he has overseen a period of sustained growth, network expansion and capability enhancement, while contributing to the development of the company’s customer-centric culture, values and talent.
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 RS 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.”
Mr Subramanian brings nearly four decades of experience across product and service businesses, with 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, Mr Subramanian has led businesses through growth and transformation, with a focus on profitable expansion, service quality, customer experience and organisational capability. He has also served on the Board of Blue Dart Express Limited since 2019.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr 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.”
Blue Dart serves more than 56,400 locations across India and, as part of DHL Group’s DHL eCommerce division, has access to a global express and logistics network spanning more than 220 countries and territories. Its portfolio includes air express, freight forwarding, supply chain solutions, customs clearance and value-added services.
