When you pull that heavy metal card out of your wallet, you probably aren't thinking about the guy in the corner office in Lower Manhattan. You’re thinking about the airport lounge or the points you're racking up for a flight to Italy. But someone has to keep that massive machine running.
Stephen J. Squeri is the Chairman and CEO of American Express.
He isn't some outside "hired gun" brought in to slash costs or flip the company. Honestly, Steve is an "Amex lifer" in every sense of the word. He’s been with the company since 1985. That's over 40 years of navigating the hallways of one of the world's most iconic financial brands.
The Journey of Stephen Squeri
Most people don't realize that Squeri started at the bottom—or at least, the middle. He joined the company as a manager in the Travelers Cheque Group. Remember those? They were the ancestor of the modern credit card.
He didn't just stay in one lane. He moved through the ranks like a chess player, taking on roles in the commercial card division and eventually becoming the Chief Information Officer.
Wait, the CEO used to be the IT guy?
Basically, yes. Squeri was the CIO back in 2005. This tech background gave him a massive advantage when the world started moving away from physical cards and into the digital "tap-to-pay" reality we live in now.
Stepping into the Big Seat
In February 2018, Squeri took over the top job from Ken Chenault. Chenault was a legend in his own right, having led the company through the aftermath of 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis. Following a titan like that is never easy.
But Squeri didn't try to be Chenault 2.0. He brought a more operationally focused, "get it done" energy to the role. He’s a native New Yorker from Queens, and you can still hear a bit of that no-nonsense Astoria grit when he talks to investors on earnings calls.
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What is the CEO of American Express doing right now?
If you look at the 2024 and 2025 fiscal reports, the company is hitting record numbers. We are talking about $65.9 billion in revenue for 2024.
Squeri’s strategy has been pretty simple but incredibly effective:
- Chase the Youth: He leaned hard into Millennials and Gen Z. They are now the fastest-growing customer base for Amex.
- Premium or Bust: He doubled down on the "Membership Model." If you want the perks, you pay the annual fee. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works.
- The Small Biz Push: Amex used to be for big corporations. Squeri shifted a lot of focus toward SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), making the card a tool for local bakeries, not just Fortune 500 execs.
The Paycheck (Let's be real, you want to know)
Being the head of a global bank pays well. Kinda. In 2024, Squeri’s total compensation package was roughly $37.16 million.
Now, before you lose your mind, most of that isn't cash in a suitcase. His base salary is actually "only" $1.5 million. The rest is tied up in stock awards and bonuses. If the company does well, he does well. If the stock price craters, his net worth takes a massive hit. That’s the game at that level.
Why Squeri Matters for 2026
We are currently in early 2026, and the landscape for credit cards is getting weird. Fintechs are popping up everywhere. Apple and Google are trying to own your digital wallet.
Squeri has kept American Express relevant by making it a "lifestyle" brand rather than just a bank. He’s the one who authorized the acquisition of dining platforms like Tock and Resy. He understands that people don't just want a credit line; they want a table at a sold-out restaurant.
He famously reads and responds to 150 to 200 customer emails every single day. He told the Financial Times that since it's a membership model, you simply can't ignore the members. That's a level of micromanagement that usually drives people crazy, but for Amex, it keeps the brand's "premium" feel alive.
Some Quick Facts about the CEO
- Education: He's a Manhattan College (now Manhattan University) guy. He got his BS and MBA there.
- Board Seats: He’s on the board of the Business Roundtable and several medical foundations, including Memorial Sloan Kettering.
- Family Ties: His father, Joseph, also worked in corporate management, which might be where he got the bug for the C-suite.
Moving Forward
If you are an investor or just a cardmember, knowing who is the CEO of American Express gives you a glimpse into where the company is headed. Squeri isn't looking to reinvent the wheel; he’s looking to make the wheel more exclusive and more digital.
Actionable Next Steps:
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- Check your Card Benefits: Squeri's strategy involves "refreshing" products every few years. If you haven't looked at your Gold or Platinum benefits lately, you're probably missing out on new credits for dining or travel that he personally signed off on.
- Follow the Earnings: If you're into stocks, watch the quarterly EPS (Earnings Per Share) guidance. Squeri has been very consistent about hitting 8–10% revenue growth targets.
- Watch the Gen Z Trends: Keep an eye on the "Amex Trendex" reports. They show exactly what the CEO is betting on next, which right now seems to be "experiential travel."
Squeri has successfully navigated the "old world" of travelers cheques and the "new world" of AI-driven fraud detection. He’s likely to be at the helm for a while longer, continuing to bridge that gap between a legacy brand and a modern tech powerhouse.