Good luck and great associates are what Gary L. Crittenden, executive vice president and chief financial officer of American Express Company, attributes much of his success to.
“I’ve been so fortunate to work with such great people throughout my career,” Crittenden says. “I enjoy what I do because I enjoy who I work with.”
Since taking the position in June 2000, Crittenden has served as a key advisor on strategic and financial matters worldwide, and he represents American Express to investors, lenders, and rating agencies. He also leads the Global Network Services business, which manages American Express’ relationships with card-issuing business partners. The company has ninety-one partners in 106 countries around the world.
“I truly enjoy the financial part of business,” Crittenden explains. “It’s where it all comes together for the organization to go forward. This unique perspective of pulling it together is a lot of fun.”
Additionally, Crittenden is a member of the American Express Global Leadership Team, the company’s senior-most management group, and he serves on the board of directors of Staples and The TJX Companies.
Crittenden began his career in consulting at Bain & Company, where he worked on a range of strategic projects in the United States and Germany. Before joining American Express, Crittenden was chief financial officer of Monsanto and Sears, Roebuck & Company.
Running is one of the few hobbies he maintains after balancing his time between family, career, and Church, where he serves as president of the Yorktown, New York, Stake.
Crittenden earned his BS in management from Brigham Young University in 1976 and an MBA from Harvard University in 1979. He and his wife, Catherine, reside in New Canaan, Connecticut.
