Ryder System announced that its chairman and CEO Robert E. Sanchez will retire on March 31, 2026, with company president and chief operating officer John J. Diez set to assume the CEO role as part of a planned leadership succession.
Diez was also elected to Ryder’s board of directors, effective the same date. Sanchez, who has served as CEO since January 2013 and board chairman since May 2013, will transition to the role of executive chairman of the board to help support the leadership transition.
Diez, who has been with the company for almost 24 years, has served as president and chief operating officer since the beginning of 2025. Before that, he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for four years. During his tenure at Ryder, Diez also served as president of the company’s fleet management business, leading all areas of fleet operations and maintenance, as well as president of the company’s dedicated transportation business unit. He has held several senior vice president and C-suite roles within the company during his tenure, which began when he joined Ryder as an assistant controller in 2002.
“We are proud to name John to be Ryder’s next CEO as part of a well-planned succession. John has an exceptional business track record, understands our customers’ needs, and knows the company very well as a result of his more-than-20-year tenure with Ryder,” said Michael F. Hilton, lead independent director of Ryder’s board in a news release.
Sanchez, who has spent almost 33 years with Ryder, added that Diez is well-positioned to lead the company forward. “I’ve worked with John for over two decades and his deep understanding of our business, sound judgment and strategic mindset uniquely positions him to lead the company. I am confident that he is the right leader to drive Ryder’s continued growth.”
