Ramona Hood

Ramona Hood is president and chief executive officer of FedEx Custom Critical, a transportation provider located in Green, Ohio. The company provides a range of transportation capabilities for expedited ground and air shipments, temperature-controlled shipments, and industry-specific solutions.

Ms. Hood oversees the FedEx Custom Critical executive leadership team and is responsible for the performance and strategic direction of the company.

She brings more than 28 years of FedEx experience to her role. Ms. Hood started her career in 1991 at the age of 19 with trucking company, Roberts Express, as a receptionist. Roberts Express, was a subsidiary of Caliber System Inc., which was acquired by FedEx.

Ms. Hood is the first black woman to become CEO of a FedEx subsidiary in the company’s history.

Personal Attributes and Interests

• Her innovative and strategic distinguished her from her peers. 
• She not only brought unique approaches to the business, but she did so in a way that brought out the best in others. These leadership characteristics and values are ingrained through her past and current leadership roles at FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Supply Chain.

Work Experience

Ms. Hood most recently served as vice president of operations, strategy, and planning for FedEx Custom Critical. She started her career at FedEx Custom Critical in 1991 in an entry-level position and worked her way up to various executive leadership positions at FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Supply Chain. Her career path evolved through many areas of the company, including operations, safety, sourcing, sales, and marketing.

Board and Advisor Roles

Ms. Hood is actively involved in several civic engagements. She serves on the Summit Education Initiative, a nonprofit committed to the academic success of Summit County students, and is a business advisor for Welty Building Co., a construction consulting company in Akron, Ohio. She is also chairman of the Technology Committee for the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and was appointed to serve on its Board of Directors. Most recently, Ms. Hood was appointed to the Board of Directors for Walsh University in 2018.

Accolades

Throughout her career, Ms. Hood has been recognized for her exemplary excellence in leadership, responsibility, and passion-driven results in the industry. 

She was recognized by the Greater Akron Chamber with the 30 for the Future award (2010) and acknowledged by Sales & Marketing Executives International with a Distinguished Sales & Marketing Award (2013). And she received the Woman of Inspiration Award from Walsh University (2013).

In 2010 and 2016, Ms. Hood received the FedEx Five Star Award, which is the highest recognition team members can receive at FedEx.

Additionally, in 2016, Ms. Hood received the Women of Note award from Crain’s Cleveland Business, Progressive Woman award from Smart Business, and Influential Woman in Trucking award from the Women in Trucking Association. 

Most recently, She was recognized in 2019 by the MEECO Leadership Institute with the International Thought Leader of Distinction award.

Philanthropy

Ms. Hood has a long history of supporting nonprofits and serving on community boards to support their needs. In 2016 she set up a charitable fund at Akron Community Foundation in her family’s name to engage her two daughters in contributing to their community.

Education

Ms. Hood earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Walsh University and an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.