Kenneth Irvine Chenault is an American business executive.
Background
Chenault was born in Mineola, New York, Nassau County, as the son of a dentist and dental hygienist. His father was Hortenius Chenault a graduate of Morehouse College in Georgia, and a 1939 graduate from Howard University Dental School who passed the New York State dental exam with the highest score ever recorded as of January 2014.
Education
Chenault attended the alternative Waldorf School of Garden City, where he served as senior class president
Career
He has been the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of American Express since 2001. He is the third black Chief Executive Officer of a Fortune 500 company. Early life, education, and legal career
He then received Bachelor of Arts in history from Bowdoin College in 1973, and Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1976 (on February 10, 2014, it was announced that he had been elected to fill a vacated seat of the Harvard Corporation.
The Corporation is the chief fiduciary authority of the University and is the smaller of the two governing boards, the other being the Harvard Board of Overseers).
After Harvard, he worked as an associate at the law firm Rogers & Wells (1977–1979) in New York City, and as a consultant for Bain & Company (1979–1981). Chief Executive Officer of American Express
He joined American Express in 1981, working in the Strategic Planning Group.
He became president and chief operating officer in 1997. He became Chief Executive Officer of American Express in 2001.
While Chief Executive Officer of American Express in 2007, Chenault earned a total compensation of $50,126,585, and in 2008, he earned a total compensation of $42,752,461.
He is currently co-chair of the Business Roundtable, a director at International Business Machines Corporation, and a member at the Council on Foreign Relations. In 1995, Ebony listed him as one of 50 "living pioneers" in the African-American community. In 2008, he gave the commencement address at Howard University.
In May 2010, he gave the commencement speech at Wake Forest University and Northeastern University.
Philanthropy
On November 15, 2010, Old North Foundation recognized Chenault with its Third Lantern Award for individual commitment and dedication to public service. The Foundation honored Chenault and American Express for their significant contributions to the preservation efforts of many significant monuments and landmark structures, including the steeple of the Old North Church.
Personal life.
Membership
He is a member of the Executive Committee of The Business Council for 2011 and 2012. Kenneth Chenault has been a member of Westchester Country Club since 1990, immediately following the controversy between the Professional Golf Association Tour and Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club.