NEW YORK: American Express has created two senior public affairs positions to provide extra support to its new global financial services (GFS) division.
Elizabeth Coleman will return to New York from Hong Kong to become GFS vice-president of public affairs. She is currently vice-president of PA for Asia.
Coleman will report to Marie Davis, who has been promoted to vice-president of GFS communications. At the moment, Davis heads PA for American Express' Financial Advisors division, based in Minneapolis.
Separately, the company has promoted Susan Korchak to vice-president of PA for its US card business, and Molly Faust to vice-president of corporate and financial PR in the US.
Outside the US, the company has replaced its vice-president of international PA, Sally Sussman, who left for Estee Lauder at the end of October.
Jim Tobin, head of American Express European PA, has been promoted to the role and will take charge of non-US PR.
American Express divides non-US PR into four geographical areas. Latin America will continue to be headed by PA vice-president Simon Kleine, and Canada by David Burns.
However, Tobin's priorities will be to find a new European vice-president to replace himself, and a new Asian vice-president of PA to replace Coleman.
The new emphasis on Amex's financial services coincides with a change of management. President and COO Ken Chenault takes over as chairman and CEO at the end of the year, replacing Harvey Golub, who is retiring.
