Black executive Anre Williams earns $18.24-million salary from American Express in 2022

One of America’s leading Black executives, Anre Williams, CEO of American Express National Bank (AENB), and Group President Enterprise Services at American Express, received a total compensation package of $18.24 million from America’s leading consumer lending giant in 2022, attributed to his contributions to the corporation’s financial success.

Williams — who became CEO of AENB and Group President Enterprise Services at American Express in April 2021 —received a base salary of $1 million and a performance-based short-term incentive of $6.04 million — reflecting his pivotal role in leading the financial services giant towards impressive financial milestones in 2022.

The highly accomplished executive also received a long-term incentive award of $5.66 million, reflecting his expertise as a seasoned executive—his leadership has played a key role in the group’s financial performance and has also redefined the narrative of innovation in the global financial services industry.

From marketing manager to executive committee: Anre Williams’ 30-year climb at American Express

For over three decades, Williams has exhibited remarkable dedication at American Express, dating back to 1990 when he joined the group as a marketing manager in the Consumer Card division.

Since then, his impressive career path has led him to spearhead new product development in Small Business Services. His consistent success at various levels paved the way for his appointment as President of Global Merchant Services in 2011.

In 2018, Williams’ leadership expanded further as he took on the role of Group President, of Global Merchant & Network Services (GMNS), and became a member of the Executive Committee.

Anre Williams invests in American Express’ future, owning minority stake

Under his guidance, American Express has flourished, becoming the world’s fourth-largest card network by purchase volume. With over 133 million cards in force and handling more than $1.5 trillion in purchase volume in 2022, the company ranked 77th on the Fortune 500 and 28th on Forbes’ list of the most valuable brands.

Williams’ leadership extends beyond GMNS, and his impact on the group has resulted in significant revenue growth, increasing by 23.89 percent from $42.52 billion in 2021 to $52.68 billion in 2022. Additionally, assets rose from $188.55 billion in 2021 to $228.35 billion in 2022.

Beyond his executive and governance roles, Williams demonstrates his unwavering commitment to American Express through his investment. He owns a minority 0.018-percent stake in the company, equivalent to 131,798 ordinary shares. This stake is worth $22.63 million at the time of drafting this report.