Stephen J. Squeri has been leading American Express as CEO since 2018, having started with the company back in 1985. His journey is quite fascinating—he's climbed through various roles, from managing the Travelers Cheque Group to becoming Vice Chairman, before...

Stephen J. Squeri has been leading American Express as CEO since 2018, having started with the company back in 1985. His journey is quite fascinating—he's climbed through various roles, from managing the Travelers Cheque Group to becoming Vice Chairman, before taking the big chair. Under his leadership, American Express has focused on expanding its global presence and enhancing digital payment systems, tackling challenges like customer satisfaction and earnings growth head-on. His compensation has seen quite a rollercoaster, jumping from about $2.5 million in 2021 to around $35.8 million in 2023, which is mainly tied to performance bonuses based on the company’s success. Squeri is also passionate about environmental and social governance, emphasizing diversity and sustainable practices at American Express. An interesting tidbit: he received a special award in 2019 that significantly boosted his compensation potential, all designed to align his incentives with the future success of the company.