American Express has announced several senior leadership and organizational changes in the company with immediate effect.
Reportedly, the company’s global consumer, small business and network businesses will report to Edward Gilligan, vice chairman. Mr. Gilligan had previously led the global business to business group.
A new global services organization that includes company-wide customer service, technologies, operations, business processing and information management will report to Stephen Squeri, who has been promoted to group president. Mr. Squeri has been in charge of technologies and corporate development.
The company has said that a new enterprise growth organization is being created to leverage existing assets, generate incremental fee revenue and drive the company’s entry into new payment areas and related businesses. It has added that a senior level executive from outside American Express is being recruited to head this organization.
Mr. Gilligan and Mr. Squeri will report to Kenneth Chenault, chairman and chief executive. Additionally, with Mr. Gilligan taking on additional responsibilities, Anre Williams, president of global commercial card and Charles Petruccelli, president of global business travel will also report to Mr. Chenault.
As a part of the changes, Judson Linville will continue as president and CEO, US consumer services, reporting to Mr. Gilligan. He is responsible for the consumer card, membership rewards and consumer travel businesses in the company’s market and for the prepaid card and travelers cheque businesses globally.
In addition, American Express announced that president Alfred Kelly Jr. has decided to leave the company early next year.
Mr. Chenault said: “Mr. Kelly made clear to me that he wanted the opportunity to run a company as chief executive. Given my own plans for the coming years, we both agreed that was not likely to happen at American Express in the short term. Until he leaves next year, he will continue to lead our transition to a bank holding company.”
“We have the right products for a new economy, a diverse set of payments businesses, an enviable customer base, a powerful global brand and an extraordinary team of employees dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. Furthermore, we have a number of terrific opportunities for growth and a set of winning strategies to help us capitalize on them. The new organizational structure I am announcing will help us realize the full potential of these assets and ensure that American Express continues to be a leader in global payments,” he added.
