Chenault tightens grip
American Express has re-structured its senior management, giving more prominence to its business travel and commercial card operations.
Under the changes, Charles Petruccelli, president of Amex's global business travel, and Anré Williams, president global commercial card, will both report directly to Kenneth Chenault, chairman and chief executive.
In moves that seem to strengthen the hand of Mr Chenault, president Alfred Kelly who was in charge of the consumer and small business card operations, is leaving the company.
In future the global consumer, small businesses and network businesses will report to Edward Gilligan, Amex's vice chairman.
Amex has also set up a new global services division which includes company-wide customer service, technologies, operations, business processing and information management which will all report to Stephen Squeri.
Mr Squeri was previously in charge of technologies and corporate development.
The company is also setting up a new Enterprise Growth organisation which will "leverage existing assets, generate incremental fee revenue and drive the company's entry into new payment areas and related businesses"
It plans to recruit an executive from outside Amex to run this sector.
Mr Chenault said that Mr Kelly had decided to leave because he wished to run a company as its ceo.
The company said it a statement that the changes were designed "to position the company for growth during a time of change in the payments industry and take advantage of opportunities as the world economy comes out of the recession".
Mr Chenault said Amex had a "number of terrific opportunities for growth and a set of winning strategies to help us capitalise on them".
He added: "The new organisational structure I am announcing ...will help us realise the full potential of these assets and ensure that American Express continues to be a leader in global payments."