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 CEO of American Express |
| Spouse(s) | Kathryn Chenault |
Kenneth Irvine Chenault, born on June 2, 1951, is a famous American businessman. He was the top leader, known as the Chairman and CEO, of American Express from 2001 to 2018. After that, he became the Chairman of a big company called General Catalyst, which helps new businesses grow.
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Early Life and School Days
Kenneth Chenault is an African American man. He was born in Mineola, New York. His father was a dentist and his mother was a dental hygienist. His father, Hortenius Chenault, went to Morehouse College and Howard University Dental School. He even got the highest score ever on the dental exam in New York.
Kenneth went to the Waldorf School in Garden City. He was the senior class president there. Later, he earned a degree in history from Bowdoin College in 1973. He then went to Harvard Law School and became a lawyer in 1976.
His Career Journey
Chenault started his career as a lawyer at a firm called Rogers & Wells from 1977 to 1979. After that, he worked as a consultant for Bain & Company from 1979 to 1981.
Joining American Express
In 1981, Chenault joined American Express, a big company known for credit cards. He worked in their planning group. He became the company's president and chief operating officer in 1997. This meant he helped manage the company's daily operations. In 2001, he became the CEO of American Express, which is the highest position in the company.
Serving on Boards
Throughout his career, Chenault has been a part of many important groups. He was on the executive committee of the Business Roundtable starting in 2007. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, which discusses world events. In 2011 and 2012, he was on the executive committee of The Business Council.
Awards and Recognition
In 1995, Ebony magazine named him one of 50 "living pioneers" in the African-American community. This was a big honor. In 2002, he was added to the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame. He also gave important speeches at graduation ceremonies, like at Howard University in 2008, and at Wake Forest University and Northeastern University in 2010.
Retirement and New Roles
Chenault announced in October 2017 that he would retire from American Express on February 1, 2018. Stephen J. Squeri took over his role. In December 2018, he also stepped down from his board positions at IBM and Procter & Gamble.
In January 2018, Chenault became the chairman and managing director of General Catalyst Partners. This company invests in new businesses. He also joined the board of directors for Airbnb, a popular travel company. In February 2018, he joined the board of Facebook. In March 2020, he left the Facebook board and joined the board of Berkshire Hathaway, replacing Bill Gates.
Community Involvement
Kenneth Chenault is also very active in helping his community.
In 2010, he received the Third Lantern Award from the Old North Foundation. This award recognized his dedication to public service. He and American Express were honored for helping to save important historical places, like the steeple of the Old North Church.
Kenneth and his wife, Kathryn, are big supporters of the Art for Justice Fund. This fund works to reduce the number of people in prison and help those leaving prison find jobs.
In 2014, Chenault was chosen to join the Harvard Corporation. This is one of the main governing boards of Harvard University. In 2017, he was named the chair of the advisory council for the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
In April 2019, he became a member of the NCAA's Board of Governors, which helps oversee college sports. In 2021, he was named one of the Time 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In August 2024, he spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. In October 2024, it was reported that Chenault might be chosen as the United States Secretary of the Treasury if Kamala Harris wins the presidential election.
Personal Life
Chenault lives in New Rochelle, New York, with his wife and children. He is also a member of the Westchester Country Club.
See also
In Spanish: Kenneth Chenault para niños
