Kenneth Chenault is a well-known American business executive who was the CEO and President of American Express for eighteen years (2001-2018). In addition, he is only the third African-American CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Fast facts
| Famous name: | Kenneth Chenault |
| Real name/Full name: | Kenneth Irvine Chenault |
| Sex: | Male |
| Age: | 72 years old |
| Date of birth: | June 2, 1951 |
| Birth place: | Mineola, New York, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.72 m |
| Weight: | 81 kg |
| Sexual orientation: | Straight |
| Marriage status: | Married |
| Wife/spouse (name): | Kathryn Chenault (b. 1977) |
| Children/children (son and daughter): | Yes (Kevin Chenault, Kenneth Jr. Chenault) |
| Date/Girlfriend (name): | ON |
| Is Kenneth Chenault Gay?: | Not |
| Profession: | Business manager |
| Salary: | ON |
| Net worth in 2023: | 120 million dollars |
Biography of Kenneth Chenault
Kenneth Irvine Chenault was born in Mineola, New York to Hortenius Chenault and Anna Chenault on June 2, 1951. His father was a dentist and hygienist who attended Morehouse College and Howard University School of Dentistry. His father received the highest score ever recorded on the New York state dental exam, which was only broken in 2014.
Chenault graduated from the Waldorf School of Garden City, where he was class president. He went to Bowdoin College, where he graduated with a degree in history in 1973. In 1976, he also received his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School.
Kenneth Chenault Age, height, weight
Kenneth Chenault was born on June 2, 1951, and is 72 years old as of 2023. He is 1.72 meters tall and weighs 81 kilograms.
Kenneth Chenault
Career
Kenneth Chenault began his legal career in 1977 as an associate at the Rogers & Wells law firm. He worked as a consultant for Bain & Company from 1979 to 1981. He joined American Express in 1981 as a member of the Strategic Planning Group. In 1977, he was named president and chief operating officer, and by the end of 2011, Chenault was named CEO of American Express.
He has served on several boards throughout his career. In 2007, he joined the Executive Board of the Business Round Table and the Council on Foreign Relations. He was appointed to the Executive Board of the Business Council in 2011.
Chenault stepped down as chairman of American Express in February 2018, and was succeeded by Stephen J. Squeri. In the same year, he resigned from the boards of IBM and Procter & Gamble. Chenault later became chairman and managing director of the venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners. He also joined Airbnb’s board of directors.
In 2018, he was also a member of the board of directors of Facebook. In 2020, he resigned from the board of Facebook and was appointed a member of the board of the multinational conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway, replacing Bill Gates.
Achievements and awards of Kenneth Chenault
Kenneth Chenault has received numerous awards and honors throughout his distinguished career. He was named one of 50 “Living Pioneers” in the African-American community in 1995.
In 2002, Chenault was inducted into the Junior Achievement United States Business Hall of Fame. He gave the commencement address at Howard University in 2008. Chenault has been invited to speak at ceremonies at Wake Forest University and Northeastern University the following year.
The Old North Foundation awarded him the Third Lantern Award for Individual Commitment and Commitment to Public Service in 2010. In 2014, he was named President of the Harvard Corporation.
He was named chairman of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Advisory Council in 2017. Chenault was elected to the NCAA Board of Directors in 2019.
Kenneth Chenault Net Worth in 2023
Kenneth Chenault’s net worth is estimated to be more than $120 million in October 2023. He acquired such a large fortune as a result of his successful career as a business executive.
Kenneth Chenault received $90 million in total compensation as CEO of American Express in 2007-2008. The following year, he received total compensation of $10 million, including a base salary of $2 million, a cash bonus of $1 million and an optional grant of $3 million. His total compensation rose to $16 million annually by the end of 2016.
Chenault has also amassed a substantial fortune serving on the boards of several multinational corporations, including Facebook, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Berkshire Hathaway and many others.
Kenneth Chenault is a famous businessman all over the world. He started his career as an associate and through hard work, dedication and passion he reached the position of CEO of American Express. He is considered an inspiration for ambitious young businessmen and entrepreneurs.
Kenneth Chenault Wife, Marriage
In 1977, Chenault married Kathryn Chenault. They have two children, Kevin Chenault and Kenneth Jr. Chenault, whom they raised together. He is a member of Westchester Country Club and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He has kept his personal life out of the limelight and lives happily with his wife and children in New Rochelle, New York.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education