Subramanian will succeed Balfour Manuel who will step down from the Managing Director position on November 29, 2026. Manuel will continue to be associated with Blue Dart as Senior Strategic Adviser until May 15, 2027, helping the company during the leadership transition.

Subramanian currently serves as Senior Vice President, South Asia, and Managing Director of DHL Express India. In his current role, he oversees DHL Express operations across India and several South Asian markets, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan. He is also a member of the DHL Express Asia Pacific Management Board.

He has been associated with DHL Express since 2004 and has held several leadership roles during his career. His experience covers business strategy, customer management, service quality, organisational development and business growth. He has also led initiatives focused on improving infrastructure, technology and operational capabilities.

Subramanian is already familiar with Blue Dart having served as a non-executive director on the company’s board since March 2019. His existing association with the board gives him an understanding of Blue Dart’s business and strategic priorities before taking over as Managing Director.

Before joining DHL Express, Subramanian spent 14 years at Hindustan Unilever, where he worked across sales, marketing and export management functions. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and a master’s degree in management from IIM Bangalore.

Meanwhile, Balfour Manuel is set to end his long association with Blue Dart after 43 years. He joined the company in 1983 as one of its early employees and became Managing Director in 2019. During his tenure he was involved in the company’s network expansion and development of its capabilities.

As part of the succession plan Manuel will remain available in an advisory role until May 15, 2027. This arrangement is intended to support a smooth handover as Subramanian takes charge of the company.

The leadership change comes as Blue Dart continues its operations in India’s express logistics and delivery market. With Subramanian’s experience in the logistics sector and his prior association with Blue Dart the company is moving ahead with a planned transition in its top management.

“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,” says Balfour Manuel.

Leadership Statements

“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,” says R.S. Subramanian.

He adds, “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.”

Read Also - Zendesk Appoints David Hall-Johnston as CTO for APAC