Ryder announces CEO succession plan

Ryder System announced a planned chief executive succession, with Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Sanchez set to retire March 31, 2026, and President and Chief Operating Officer John Diez named as his successor.

Sanchez, who has led the fully integrated logistics and transportation company since 2013 and has served as board chairman since that year, will transition to the role of executive chair to support an orderly leadership handoff, according to a Dec. 12 Ryder release. Diez, a more than 20-year Ryder veteran, will assume the CEO role on March 31, 2026, and will also join the company’s board of directors effective that date.

Diez has served as president and COO since Jan. 1, 2025, and previously held roles including executive vice president and chief financial officer, according to the release. His career at Ryder also includes leading the fleet management business and the dedicated transportation business, where he oversaw revenue growth and improved returns.

Michael Hilton, lead independent director of Ryder’s board, credited Sanchez with driving a balanced growth strategy that reduced risk, improved returns and accelerated growth in supply chain and dedicated businesses, resulting in record shareholder value, according to the release. Ryder’s board selected Diez following a well-planned succession process and cited his deep knowledge of the company and its customers.

Ryder provides supply chain, dedicated transportation and fleet management solutions across more than 20 industries in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The company manages nearly 250,000 commercial vehicles, operates about 760 maintenance locations and runs nearly 300 warehouses totaling more than 100 million square feet.

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