Next month, former American Express CEO Ken Chenault will join the board of directors at Facebook.
?I?ve been trying to recruit Ken for years,? Mark Zuckerberg said announcing the news. ?He has unique expertise in areas I believe Facebook needs to learn and improve ? customer service, direct commerce, and building a trusted brand. Ken also has a strong sense of social mission and the perspective that comes from running an important public company for decades.?
?Adding someone to our board is one of the most important decisions our board makes,? he continued. ?It?s a long process that I take very seriously since this is the group that ultimately governs Facebook. Ken and I have had dinners discussing our mission and strategy for years, and he has already helped me think through some of the bigger issues I?m hoping we take on this year.?
One of the nation’s most respected African American corporate leaders, Chenault served as CEO of American Express from 2001 to 2017, after joining the company as director of strategic planning in 1981 and becoming president and chief operating officer in 1997. Last year, he made the decision to step down saying, ?I?ve treasured every day of my 37-year career here. It?s been a journey that spanned profound changes in the world of business.?
