FedEx Corp. is delivering the president and chief operating officer title to David Bronczek 11 months earlier than anticipated. He will be responsible for marketing, sales and overseeing all FedEx companies, effective Feb. 1, the shipping carrier said Monday.

Bronczek has been president and CEO of FedEx Express, the air cargo subsidiary of FedEx, since 2000. His promotion was first announced in September, to be effective Jan. 1, 2018. The chief operating officer is a new position at FedEx and analysts have said this promotion would put Bronczek in the running to succeed founder and CEO Fred Smith.

“While this was announced last September, substantial progress in integrating the TNT acquisition into FedEx Express now allows us to accelerate Dave’s promotion by 11 months in advance of fiscal year 2018.  He is uniquely qualified to take on the position of president and chief operating officer,” Smith said in a statement. “Under Dave’s leadership for the past 17 years, the FedEx Express team has achieved outstanding financial results and service levels.”

FedEx completed its $4.8 billion acquisition of parcel delivery company TNT Express in May. TNT is based in Holland and operates throughout Europe and beyond.

Bronczek’s current position at FedEx Express will be filled by David Cunningham, previously the regional president of the Asia Pacific Region and most recently executive vice president and chief operating officer of FedEx Express.

FedEx is the shipping carrier for 313 retailers in the Internet Retailer 2016 Top 1000, according to Top500Guide.com data.