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 chairman and chief executive officer of American Express, one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Born and raised in Astoria, Queens, New York, Squeri joined American Express in 1985 and spent more than three decades ascending through the company's ranks before being named CEO in February 2018, succeeding Kenneth Chenault. Over the course of his career at American Express, he has held leadership positions spanning technology, corporate strategy, and business operations, including serving as the company's chief information officer and later as vice chairman. Under his leadership, American Express has pursued a strategy focused on premium customers, digital innovation, and attracting younger generations of cardholders. In 2025, TIME named Squeri 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, New York City. He grew up in the working-class neighborhoods of Queens, an upbringing that would later inform his perspective on leadership and community engagement. Squeri attended Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School, a Roman Catholic preparatory school located in East Elmhurst, Queens. He has remained connected to his alma mater throughout his career, later serving on its board of governors.

Squeri's ties to his Queens roots have remained a notable aspect of his public identity. He has participated in events at Monsignor McClancy, including throwing out the first pitch at the school's baseball activities. His long-standing relationship with the institutions of his youth has been reflected in his board service and philanthropic involvement with both Monsignor McClancy and Manhattan University in the decades that followed.

Education

After graduating from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School, Squeri enrolled at Manhattan University (formerly Manhattan College), a Lasallian institution located in the Bronx, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and subsequently an MBA from the same university.

Squeri's connection to Manhattan University has deepened over the years. In 2016, the university honored him at its annual De La Salle Dinner, recognizing his professional achievements and contributions to the institution. In 2023, he was named chairman of the Manhattan University board of trustees, a role reflecting his sustained engagement with the school's governance and mission.

Career

Early Career at American Express

Squeri joined American Express in 1985, beginning a career at the company that would span more than four decades. Over the ensuing decades, he held a series of progressively senior leadership positions across multiple divisions of the company. His early career at American Express encompassed roles in technology, operations, and business management, giving him broad exposure to the company's diverse operations.

In 2005, Squeri was appointed chief information officer (CIO) of American Express, a role in which he oversaw the company's technology infrastructure and digital strategy during a period of significant transformation in the financial services industry. His tenure as CIO coincided with the growing importance of digital technology in payments and customer engagement, and his work in that capacity helped position him as a candidate for broader leadership responsibilities.

Vice Chairman

In 2015, Squeri was elevated to the role of vice chairman of American Express, placing him among the most senior executives at the company and positioning him as a potential successor to then-CEO Kenneth Chenault. As vice chairman, Squeri took on expanded oversight of key business units and strategic initiatives. His promotion came during a period of transition for American Express, which was navigating the loss of its longstanding co-brand partnership with Costco and facing increased competition in the payments industry.

During his time as vice chairman, Squeri also served on outside corporate boards. He was appointed to the board of directors of J.Crew, gaining additional experience in corporate governance beyond the financial services sector.

Appointment as CEO

On October 18, 2017, American Express announced that Kenneth Chenault, who had served as CEO since 2001, would retire effective February 1, 2018, and that Squeri would succeed him as chief executive officer. The announcement marked the end of Chenault's 16-year tenure as CEO and a major leadership transition for the company. Squeri was described as a 32-year insider who had worked across virtually every major division of American Express.

The selection of Squeri represented a choice of continuity and deep institutional knowledge. Bloomberg News described the appointment as the selection of a longtime company veteran to lead the remaking of the credit card giant amid intensifying competition and changing consumer preferences. Squeri formally assumed the role of CEO on February 1, 2018, and subsequently also became chairman of the board of directors of American Express.

Leadership as CEO

Under Squeri's leadership, American Express has pursued a strategy centered on attracting premium customers and younger demographics, enhancing digital capabilities, and strengthening the company's brand positioning. In a 2025 interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, Squeri discussed the company's 175-year history and its ongoing evolution under his leadership.

A key element of Squeri's strategic approach has been the company's focus on Generation Z and millennial consumers. In April 2025, Squeri stated that total billed business on the company's cards had increased, attributing the company's strong performance in part to the spending behavior of its younger, affluent cardholders. He noted that the company was in a favorable position even as broader economic uncertainty persisted, because its wealthier Gen Z clients were not experiencing the same financial pressures affecting other consumer segments.

The strategy of targeting high-spending customers has been a defining feature of Squeri's tenure. In January 2026, CNBC reported that American Express was seeking to attract even more high-spending customers, a move described as reflecting the broader trend of a "K-shaped economy" in which wealthy consumers continued to spend freely while other segments pulled back.

Squeri has also described the company's overall business trajectory in positive terms. In an interview with Barron's, he stated that the business was "firing on all cylinders," pointing to strong performance across key metrics. The Chief Executive publication reported on the company's progress on key initiatives under Squeri's direction.

Public Policy Positions

In his role as CEO, Squeri has spoken publicly on matters of economic and regulatory policy. In 2026, he publicly opposed proposed interest rate caps on credit cards, arguing that such a measure would not be beneficial for the broader economy. His position reflected the broader stance of the financial services industry, which has generally argued that rate caps could restrict access to credit and reduce competition.

Compensation

Squeri's compensation as CEO of American Express has placed him among the highest-paid corporate executives in the United States. According to the Equilar/New York Times ranking of the top 100 highest-paid CEOs, Squeri was included in the 2024 list. In September 2025, SEC filings revealed that Squeri sold approximately $37 million in American Express stock.

In 2025, a legal proceeding in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York addressed the discoverability of Squeri's compensation in an antitrust case involving American Express's anti-steering rules. The court ruled that plaintiffs' trial examination would be restricted solely to Squeri's compensation tied to American Express's performance-based salary, limiting broader inquiry into his total remuneration.

Personal Life

Squeri was born and raised in Astoria, Queens, New York. He has maintained strong ties to his hometown and the institutions of his youth, including Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School and Manhattan University.

Squeri is involved in a number of philanthropic and civic organizations. He serves on the board of trustees of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The Valerie Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports children with cancer and blood disorders. He is a board member of the Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit organization composed of the city's top business leaders focused on economic development and public policy.

Squeri is also a member of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of major U.S. companies, the American Society of Corporate Executives, and The Business Council.

Recognition

In 2016, Manhattan University honored Squeri at its annual De La Salle Dinner in recognition of his professional accomplishments and service to the university community.

In 2023, Squeri was appointed chairman of the board of trustees of Manhattan University, one of the most prominent leadership roles within the institution's governance structure.

In April 2025, TIME named Squeri to its annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. The magazine's profile described him as "magnanimous" and highlighted the impact he had made since assuming leadership of American Express in 2018. The recognition placed Squeri among a select group of global leaders, artists, innovators, and icons selected by the magazine's editors.

Squeri has also been recognized within the financial services and payments industries. He is listed as a member of the Payments Leadership Council, an organization of senior executives in the payments sector.

His inclusion in the Equilar/New York Times ranking of the top 100 highest-paid CEOs in 2024 further reflected his standing among the most prominent corporate leaders in the United States.

Legacy

Stephen Squeri's tenure at American Express, spanning more than four decades, represents one of the longest careers at a single major financial institution among contemporary corporate leaders. His ascent from a 1985 hire to the company's chairman and CEO has made him a prominent example of internal executive development within a large, publicly traded corporation.

Under his leadership, American Express has continued to position itself as a premium brand in the competitive payments industry, with a particular emphasis on attracting affluent younger consumers and expanding its digital capabilities. The company celebrated its 175th anniversary during Squeri's tenure, a milestone he highlighted publicly as a reflection of both the company's enduring brand and its capacity for reinvention.

Squeri's career trajectory—from a Queens upbringing and Catholic school education through decades of progressively senior roles at a single company—has been noted as a distinctive path among modern Fortune 500 CEOs, many of whom change companies multiple times during their careers. His sustained involvement with Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School and Manhattan University has further underscored the continuity between his personal background and his professional life.

His recognition by TIME as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2025 placed him among the most prominent business leaders of his era, reflecting both his individual leadership and the continued significance of American Express within the global financial system.