Kenneth Chenault facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Chenault
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Chenault in 2012
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Kenneth Irvine Chenault
June 2, 1951 Mineola, New York, U.S.
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| Education | Bowdoin College (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Title | Former Chairman and CEO of American Express |
| Spouse(s) | Kathryn Chenault |
| Children | 2 |
Kenneth Irvine Chenault, born on June 2, 1951, is an American businessman. He was the top leader, known as the Chairman and CEO, of American Express (often called AMEX) from 2001 to 2018. When he became the head of AMEX, he was only the third Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company. A Fortune 500 company is one of the 500 largest companies in the United States by total income. Since 2018, he has been the chairman and managing director of General Catalyst, a company that invests in new businesses.
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Early Life and Education
Chenault was born in Mineola, New York. His family has African American heritage. His mother, Anne N. Quick Chenault, was a dental hygienist, and his father, Dr. Hortenius Chenault, was a dentist. His father was very smart, even getting the highest score ever on the New York State dental exam at one point.
Ken went to the Waldorf School in Garden City, where he was the senior class president. He earned a degree in history from Bowdoin College in 1973. He later attended Harvard Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1976.
Ken Chenault's Career Journey
Chenault started his career working at a law firm called Rogers & Wells in New York City from 1977 to 1979. After that, he worked as a consultant for Bain & Company from 1979 to 1981.
Leading American Express
Chenault worked for 37 years at American Express, which is a big company that offers financial services like credit cards. He joined American Express in 1981. He became the president and chief operating officer in 1997. Then, in 2001, he became the CEO of American Express.
As CEO, Chenault helped American Express grow and succeed. He was recognized for his public service, especially for helping to preserve important landmarks like the steeple of the Old North Church.
On February 1, 2018, Chenault retired from American Express. Stephen J. Squeri took over as CEO.
Working at General Catalyst
In January 2018, Chenault announced that he would become the chairman and managing director of General Catalyst Partners. This company invests in and helps new technology businesses grow.
Board Memberships and Community Work
Throughout his career, Chenault has been a part of many important boards. These boards help guide different organizations and companies.
- From 2007, he was on the executive committee of the Business Roundtable, a group of top CEOs.
- He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, which studies international issues.
- In 2014, he was chosen to join the Harvard Corporation, which is one of the main governing boards of Harvard University.
- In 2017, Chenault became the chair of the advisory council for the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- In 2018, he joined the board of directors for Airbnb, a popular online marketplace for lodging.
- He also served on the board of directors for Facebook (now Meta) from 2018 to 2020.
- In 2019, he was appointed to the NCAA's Board of Governors, which helps oversee college sports.
- In 2020, he joined the board of Berkshire Hathaway, a large holding company.
Chenault also helped start OneTen, a non-profit group that helps people find jobs even if they don't have a four-year college degree. He is also a board member for several other important organizations, including the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Giving Back to the Community
Ken Chenault and his wife, Kathryn, are very involved in helping others. They are founding donors to the Art for Justice Fund. This fund works to reduce the number of people in prison and helps those leaving prison find jobs.
Personal Life
Chenault and his family live in New York City. He is a member of the Westchester Country Club.
Awards and Recognitions
Ken Chenault has received many honors and awards for his achievements:
- 1995: Ebony magazine named him one of 50 "living pioneers" in the African-American community.
- 1996: He received an honorary degree from Bowdoin College, his old school.
- 2002: He was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.
- 2008: He was the commencement speaker (gave the graduation speech) at Howard University.
- 2010: He was the commencement speaker at Wake Forest University and Northeastern University.
- 2021: He was included in the Time 100, Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
- 2024: He was a speaker at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
See also
In Spanish: Kenneth Chenault para niños
