USA TODAY's CEO Forum to Feature Kenneth I. Chenault, American Express Chairman and CEO, at Cornell University on April 3
March 14, 2008 | Ithaca, NY | The Johnson School and School of Hotel Administration are collaborating to bring the USA TODAY CEO Forum to Cornell University on April 3, 2008. Held at 4:30 p.m. in the Alice Statler Auditorium, the hour-long event includes an engaging, in-depth interview with Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express, conducted by David Lieberman, Senior Reporter for USA TODAY, followed by a moderated question and answer session with the audience. The interview, uniquely previewed by Cornell students, faculty and staff, will be featured in USA TODAY's Money section the week following the Forum. A free reception for event attendees will take place in Sage Hall atrium after the event.
David J. Skorton, Cornell University President; L. Joseph Thomas, Dean and Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Manufacturing and Professor of Operations Management; and Michael D. Johnson, Dean and E.M. Statler Professor, Cornell School of Hotel Administration, will be present to welcome USA TODAY and American Express to Cornell University and this historic event.
Mr. Chenault joined American Express in September 1981 as Director of Strategic Planning. He was named President of the Consumer Card Group in 1989, and in 1993 he became President of Travel Related Services (TRS), which encompassed all of American Express' card and travel businesses in the United States. In 1995, he assumed additional responsibility for the company's worldwide card and travel businesses and also was named Vice Chairman of American Express. He became President and Chief Operating Officer in February 1997. He assumed his current responsibilities as CEO on January 1, 2001, and as Chairman on April 23 of that year.
According to Joseph Thomas, "We're thrilled to welcome USA TODAY and Ken Chenault to Cornell University. This event provides an exciting opportunity for our students to engage in a dialogue with a leading Fortune 500 CEO. American Express is one of the Johnson School's closest corporate and recruiting partners so it is also a nice opportunity to connect with our alumni now working there to build an even deeper corporate relationship."
"We are delighted to partner with the Johnson School in playing host to The American Express Company, which is also a close corporate friend to the School of Hotel Administration," said Michael Johnson. "This is another example of our commitment to fully leverage the strong partnerships we have built with the leading companies in corporate America."
The USA TODAY CEO Forum was launched in October 2005 and has been presented on seven select university campuses and business schools. Each CEO Forum features a distinguished CEO of a corporation heralded for its achievements and advancements in the area of business and technology. The discussion typically highlights four key areas: the CEO's pathway to the top, key milestones, thoughts on leadership, and what lies ahead. Recent USA TODAY CEO Forums have hosted Jeffrey Immelt, CEO, General Electric at the Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business; Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft at the University Of Washington School Of Business; Anne Mulcahy, CEO, Xerox at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, and others.
Free tickets will be available for pick-up in 107 Sage Hall and 180 Statler Hall March 24 through 26 for Johnson School and School of Hotel Administration students, faculty and staff only. Beginning March 27 through April 3, remaining tickets will be available to the Cornell community at the Willard Straight Box office.
