So you think the board of directors is of a mindset to one day replace Fred with someone of a vastly different and far more benevolent mindset?
Hedge fund manager Dan Loeb made a large enough purchase of FedEx stock that it entitled him and his people to meet with Fred and co. to talk business. There are some fundamental differences and Fred won't budge. For instance, Loeb thinks that Fred should lay people off during the slow times and call them back during the busy times. Stuff like that.
Some people think that we can't get rid of Fred soon enough. Who would replace him? It's not as though there are dozens of competent candidates out there who are dying for the opportunity to give away the store. There are plenty who realize that the easiest way to crank up the profit margin at Express is cut staffing and drastically cut the benefits of those who remain. Once that's done, maybe sell it to someone else.
That's not the only idea being considered by those who have a very serious interest in the company. The contractor model is very successful at Ground. There are those who are dying to have the chance to merge Ground and Express in some form and have the contractor model handle the bulk of operations. That is a very serious consideration.
I don't care if anyone likes Fred or not. Good for you if you do. Good for you if you don't. Burn him in effigy if you want. Build a Fred pinata. Make voodoo dolls. Do whatever, but be aware that he's fighting against the conventional wisdom and those who are pushing it that he should be cutting everything to the bone and outsourcing as much of it as possible.