KAREN BLANKS ELLIS - Bio

Karen Blanks Ellis
Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of Environmental Affairs
FedEx

As Chief Sustainability Officer at FedEx, Karen Blanks Ellis drives the global sustainability strategy for the world’s largest express transportation company, steering its ambitious goal of achieving carbon-neutral operations worldwide by 2040. She also leads the company’s environmental engineering and compliance teams, leveraging her technical expertise in engineering, aviation, and environmental policy to deliver innovative, results-oriented solutions. With a career spanning decades, Blanks Ellis has been a champion of environmental stewardship. Her leadership has elevated the company’s approach to sustainability, from regulatory compliance to strategic environmental planning, aligning operational excellence with environmental responsibility. Blanks Ellis most recently held the role of managing director, Strategic Environmental Management & Sustainability for the FedEx Express division. In that role, she provided strategic leadership to integrate environmental risk management into business planning, successfully obtained ISO 14001 certification for all U.S. FedEx airport locations, and led proactive efforts to mitigate emerging chemical risks. Her team also launched the first shipping emissions calculator for FedEx customers —empowering customers to make more sustainable choices.

Blanks Ellis holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Christian Brothers University, is a graduate of the Leadership Memphis Executive Program and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her public service includes former appointments to both the Shelby County Ground Water Quality Control Board and the Alaska Governor’s Climate Change Strategy Committee, reflecting her commitment to community and climate leadership.

In 2025, Blanks Ellis was one of 50 global leaders named to the Forbes Sustainability Leaders List, recognizing her leadership of the company’s pursuit of scalable climate solutions. She serves on the board of the International Aviation Women’s Association and is former chair of the Airlines for America Environmental Sustainability Council. As CSO, she remains a passionate mentor and advocate for women in the fields of aviation and engineering.