AMERICAN EXPRESS ANNOUNCES SENIOR APPOINTMENT IN THE GLOBAL CORPORATE SERVICES UNIT

American Express International, Inc. announced today the appointment of Mr. James Alba-Duignan as Head of Corporate Services for Hong Kong.

In his new role, Mr. Duignan is responsible for the strategic development of American Express’ Corporate Services business in Hong Kong, providing direction in developing value-added programs and strengthening the company’s consulting services for its corporate clients. He will lead the corporate services team’s business development functions, the management of existing customer relationship and the introduction of new products and initiatives such as B2B payment solutions using the American Express Corporate Purchasing Card and ‘on-line’ product enhancements.

Mr. Duignan joins American Express with a wealth of experience in sales and marketing management. He has worked in Asia for nearly 5 years and started his first office in the region for Modulex Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of the LEGO Group. In 1998, he became the Sales Director and helped create the management team to establish the rapidly expanding company of Regus Business Centres Ltd, working in a number of Asian markets including Hong Kong, China and Japan.

Educated in the UK, Mr. Duignan is a Marketing graduate of De Montfort University in Leicester. He is also a qualified Mechanical Engineer.

American Express Corporate Services include the Corporate Card, Corporate Purchasing Card and Corporate Travel Services. It provides consulting services and expertise to assist companies in managing and controlling business travel, entertainment and indirect purchasing expenses. It is a unit of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Express Company - a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travellers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.