Stephen J. Squeri

Stephen J. Squeri
Name	Stephen J. Squeri
Birth date	1959
Birth place	Queens, New York City, New York, United States
Alma mater	Manhattan College, Columbia Business School
Occupation	Business executive
Years active	1981–present
Known for	Chief Executive Officer of American Express

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Stephen J. Squeri is an American business executive who serves as Chief Executive Officer of American Express. He has played prominent roles in corporate strategy and payments innovation, interacting with leaders at JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and regulators such as the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Squeri's tenure involved partnerships and competition with firms including Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Square (company), and Apple Inc..

Early life and education

Squeri was born in Queens and raised in New York City, attending institutions like Cardinal Hayes High School and later studying at Manhattan College where he earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering. He completed executive education at Columbia Business School and participated in programs associated with Harvard Business School and Wharton School. During his formative years he engaged with student organizations and interacted with alumni from General Electric, IBM, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, and PepsiCo.

Squeri joined American Express in 1985 and held roles in Global Corporate Payments, Travel Related Services, and operations leadership, collaborating across divisions with executives from Barclays, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, HSBC, and Santander. He served as Group President for Global Corporate Services and later as Vice Chairman, overseeing units that worked with partners such as Marriott International, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Hilton Worldwide, and Expedia Group. His operational responsibilities included interactions with technology vendors like IBM, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Microsoft, and Accenture.

As CEO, Squeri advanced digital transformation, data analytics, and customer-centric product development, integrating services aligned with Amazon (company), Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Netflix. He prioritized cybersecurity and fraud prevention in coordination with agencies such as the Department of Justice and organizations like FBI task forces, while working with standards bodies including PCI Security Standards Council. Strategic initiatives included expanding small business services in collaboration with Small Business Administration programs and launching partnerships with fintechs such as Stripe, Adyen, SoFi, Affirm, and Stripe (company). He led efforts on sustainability and corporate responsibility, engaging with groups like United Nations Global Compact, World Economic Forum, Business Roundtable, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation forums. During his leadership, American Express negotiated merchant agreements and network arrangements involving Discover Financial Services, Interac, Euronet Worldwide, and Fiserv.

Squeri has served on the boards and advisory councils of institutions including AIG, JPMorgan Chase, The Business Council, The Council on Foreign Relations, and industry bodies like the Financial Services Forum and American Bankers Association. He is affiliated with academic and nonprofit boards such as Manhattan College, Columbia Business School, New York University, and philanthropic organizations linked to United Way, American Red Cross, and City University of New York. He has participated in task forces and advisory committees with entities like SIFMA, IMF, World Bank, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and International Monetary Fund delegations.

Squeri has supported initiatives in education, workforce development, and disaster relief, contributing to programs associated with UNICEF, Save the Children, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He engaged in public-private partnerships with municipal bodies such as the City of New York and state agencies including the New York State Department of Economic Development, and collaborated with nonprofit networks like Partnership for New York City and Council on Competitiveness. His philanthropic focus included grants and mentorship programs linking Teach For America, Junior Achievement USA, Khan Academy, and local community colleges.

Squeri resides in the New York metropolitan area and has been recognized by institutions such as Forbes, Fortune (magazine), The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg L.P., and The New York Times for leadership in financial services. Awards and honors have come from industry groups including PaymentsSource Awards, Financial Times, Ernst & Young, and chambers like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce. He has spoken at events hosted by TED Conferences, Milken Institute, World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Aspen Institute, and academic forums at Harvard University and Columbia University.