Stephen Squeri

Stephen J. Squeri
Born	Stephen Joseph Squeri 1959
Birthplace	Astoria, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Chairman and CEO, American Express
Known for	Chairman and CEO of American Express
Education	Manhattan University (BS, MBA)
Awards	TIME 100 Most Influential People (2025)
Website	[[{{{1}}} {{{1}}}] Official site]

Stephen Joseph Squeri (born 1959) is an American business executive who serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of American Express, one of the largest financial services corporations in the world. A career-long American Express employee, Squeri first joined the company in 1985 and held a succession of senior leadership positions over more than three decades—including chief information officer and vice chairman—before being named CEO in February 2018, succeeding Kenneth Chenault. His tenure at the helm of American Express has been defined by a strategic emphasis on attracting younger, affluent consumers, investing in digital capabilities, and expanding the company's premium card offerings. Born and raised in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York, Squeri attended local schools before earning both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Manhattan University. In 2025, TIME named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world.

Early Life

Stephen Joseph Squeri was born in 1959 in Astoria, a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City. He grew up in a working-class community in Queens, attending local schools in the area. As a young man, Squeri attended Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in East Elmhurst, Queens, graduating in 1977. The school, a Catholic secondary institution operated under the auspices of the Diocese of Brooklyn, would remain an important institution in Squeri's life; he later joined its board of governors and maintained a long-standing relationship with the school community.

Squeri's upbringing in Queens shaped his connection to New York City, where he would spend the bulk of his professional career. His roots in a modest neighborhood contrasted with the global financial world he would eventually lead, and he has maintained ties to his home borough throughout his career.

Education

Following his graduation from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in 1977, Squeri enrolled at Manhattan University (then known as Manhattan College), a Lasallian Catholic institution located in the Bronx, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981 and subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the same institution in 1983.

Manhattan University has remained a significant part of Squeri's life beyond his years as a student. In 2016, the university honored him at its annual De La Salle Dinner, recognizing his professional achievements and service to the institution. In March 2023, Squeri was named chairman of the Manhattan University board of trustees, a role in which he continues to serve.

Career

Early Career at American Express (1985–2005)

Squeri joined American Express in 1985, beginning a career at the company that would span four decades. Over his first two decades at the company, he moved through a number of management positions, gaining experience across multiple divisions of the organization. His early tenure at American Express coincided with a period of significant transformation in the financial services industry, as credit card companies adapted to the rise of electronic commerce and digital payment technologies.

Chief Information Officer and Senior Leadership (2005–2015)

In 2005, Squeri was appointed chief information officer (CIO) of American Express, a role that placed him at the center of the company's technology strategy during a pivotal period of digital transformation in the payments industry. As CIO, he oversaw the company's information technology infrastructure and played a central role in modernizing American Express's digital platforms.

During this period, Squeri also gained broader operational responsibilities. His technology leadership positioned him as a key figure in American Express's efforts to compete in an increasingly digital marketplace, where fintech startups and technology companies were beginning to challenge traditional financial services firms.

Vice Chairman (2015–2018)

In 2015, Squeri was elevated to the role of vice chairman of American Express, a position that expanded his responsibilities beyond technology to encompass a wider range of the company's strategic and operational functions. As vice chairman, he served as one of the most senior executives in the organization, reporting directly to then-CEO Kenneth Chenault.

The vice chairmanship positioned Squeri as a leading candidate for the top job at American Express. During this period, the company was navigating significant challenges, including the loss of its exclusive co-brand partnership with Costco in the United States and increased competition from rivals such as JPMorgan Chase and Capital One.

Appointment as CEO

On October 18, 2017, American Express announced that Kenneth Chenault, who had served as CEO since 2001, would retire in February 2018 and that Squeri would succeed him as chairman and chief executive officer. The announcement drew significant attention in the financial industry, as Chenault had been one of the most prominent African American CEOs in corporate America and had led American Express through the 2008 financial crisis.

Squeri's selection was seen as a choice of continuity and institutional knowledge. Having spent more than 32 years at the company by the time of his appointment, he was described by Bloomberg News as a "32-year insider" chosen to "remake" the credit card giant. The New York Times reported that Squeri was tapped after a succession planning process overseen by the American Express board of directors. He formally assumed the role of CEO on February 1, 2018.

Tenure as Chairman and CEO (2018–present)

Since taking the helm of American Express, Squeri has pursued a strategy centered on attracting younger consumers, expanding premium card offerings, and investing in digital services. Under his leadership, the company has placed particular emphasis on marketing to Generation Z and millennial consumers with higher disposable incomes.

In April 2025, Squeri noted that the company's total billed business had grown, citing strong spending patterns among younger affluent customers as a driver of performance even amid broader economic uncertainty. This strategy of targeting high-spending consumers has been characterized by financial media as an example of a "K-shaped economy" approach, in which companies focus on wealthier demographics who continue to spend freely while lower-income consumers pull back.

In a 2025 interview on CNBC with host Jim Cramer, conducted in connection with the 175th anniversary of American Express, Squeri discussed the company's long history and its strategic direction.

Squeri has also spoken publicly on matters of financial regulation. In early 2026, he spoke out against proposed interest rate caps on credit cards, arguing that such caps would not be beneficial for the broader economy. His position reflected American Express's longstanding stance that market-based pricing mechanisms are preferable to legislative price controls in the credit industry.

In September 2025, Securities and Exchange Commission filings revealed that Squeri sold approximately $37 million worth of American Express stock. Squeri has been among the highest-compensated CEOs in the United States. According to a report by Equilar and The New York Times, he was listed among the top 100 highest-paid CEOs in 2024.

Under Squeri's leadership, American Express has also faced legal challenges. In August 2025, a federal court in the Eastern District of New York addressed issues related to the discoverability of Squeri's performance-based compensation in an antitrust case involving American Express's anti-steering rules, which restrict merchants from directing customers to use other payment methods. The court ruled that certain aspects of the CEO's compensation were not subject to discovery in the litigation.

Other Corporate Board Service

Prior to his appointment as CEO of American Express, Squeri served on the board of directors of J.Crew, the American clothing retailer.

Personal Life

Squeri was born and raised in Astoria, Queens, New York, and has maintained strong connections to his home city throughout his career. He is a member of several civic and philanthropic organizations in the New York City area.

Squeri serves on the board of trustees of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the nation's leading cancer treatment and research institutions. He is also a board member of the Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit organization composed of business leaders who work on economic development issues in the city. Additionally, he serves on the board of trustees of The Valerie Fund, a nonprofit organization supporting children with cancer and blood disorders.

In addition to his role as chairman of the Manhattan University board of trustees, Squeri is a member of the board of governors of Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School, his alma mater in Queens. He is also a member of the Business Roundtable, the American Society of Corporate Executives, and The Business Council. Squeri has also been a member of the Payments Leadership Council.

Recognition

In April 2025, TIME named Squeri to its annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. The accompanying profile described him as "magnanimous" and highlighted the impact of his leadership since becoming CEO of American Express in 2018.

In 2016, Manhattan University honored Squeri at its annual De La Salle Dinner, an event recognizing alumni who have achieved distinction in their professional and civic lives. In 2023, the university further recognized his contributions by naming him chairman of its board of trustees.

Squeri was included in the Equilar and New York Times ranking of the top 100 highest-paid CEOs for 2024, reflecting both his compensation and the performance of American Express under his leadership.

His leadership at American Express has been the subject of coverage in major financial publications, including The Financial Times, Barron's, and Chief Executive magazine, which has featured his commentary on the company's strategic initiatives.

Legacy

Squeri's career at American Express, spanning more than four decades with a single company, represents an increasingly uncommon trajectory in American corporate life, where executive tenures have generally shortened over recent decades. His rise from an entry-level position in 1985 to chairman and CEO by 2018 has been cited as an example of internal talent development at a major corporation.

As CEO, Squeri has overseen a period of strategic reorientation at American Express, shifting the company's focus toward premium, fee-based card products and younger affluent consumers. This approach has drawn both attention and scrutiny, as it reflects broader trends in the financial services industry toward segmenting customers by wealth and spending capacity.

His civic involvement, particularly his roles at Manhattan University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Partnership for New York City, and Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School, reflects a pattern of engagement with institutions in the New York City metropolitan area, the region where he was born and built his career.

Squeri succeeded Kenneth Chenault, who had led American Express for 17 years, and the transition represented a continuation of the company's practice of elevating long-tenured insiders to the top position. Squeri's selection signaled the board's preference for institutional continuity and deep organizational knowledge at a time when the payments industry was undergoing rapid technological change.