Abney is currently executive chairman of the UPS board. He served as CEO of UPS from 2014 until his retirement in mid-2020. He began his UPS career in 1974 while attending Delta State University. He has served as COO and was president of UPS International. He currently serves s a trustee of The UPS Foundation, and is a member of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta as well as the Business Roundtable. The 47-year-old Abney will assume his new position on Jan. 1, 2003. In leading International package operations, he will join UPS's Management Committee, which includes the company's 11 most senior executives. Most notably, Abney has helped implement new business lines that UPS considers the foundation for its future growth. In 1999, he assumed responsibility for UPS SonicAir®, the same-day delivery arm of UPS. Following that, Abney launched UPS's Service Parts Logistics, the unit that designs and manages urgent parts networks and return-and-repair operations for customers worldwide. In 2001, Abney oversaw the integration of UPS's largest acquisition of recent years, the Fritz Companies, which has extensive operations in Asia, Europe and Latin America. He since has played a major role in operating UPS Supply Chain Solutions. Abney began his UPS career in 1974 as a part-time employee loading and unloading packages in Mississippi. He rose through the ranks in a variety of operational posts, serving as a division manager in New Jersey and District manager in Utah. Abney earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Delta State University. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Air Couriers Conference of America (ACCA), including a term as co-chairman, and also as the chairman of the Airline Liaison Committee. He currently sits on the board of Cargo Network Services (CNS), a subsidiary of the International Air Transport Association.