Mr. Chenault joined American Express in 1981 as director of Strategic Planning. He was named president of the Consumer Card Group in 1989, and president of American Express Travel Related Services in the U.S. in 1993, with responsibility for the Consumer Card Group, Consumer Financial Services, Travel Services Group and Establishment Services. He was named vice chairman of American Express Company in January 1995, and assumed additional responsibility for TRS International in April of that year. As vice chairman, he also joined the Office of the Chief Executive (OCE), the company's senior-most management group. In February of 1997 he was named president and chief operating officer, and was elected to serve as a member of the American Express Board of Directors. Prior to joining American Express, Mr. Chenault was a management consultant with Bain & Co and was an associate with the law firm of Rogers & Wells.

Mr. Chenault serves on the Boards of the American Express Company, Quaker Oats Company, Brooklyn Union Gas Company, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NYU Medical Center, Phoenix House, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member emeritus of the Bowdoin College Board of Overseers.

As well, he has received numerous awards, including the Business Leadership Community Builder Award from Phipps Houses and the Ceiling Breaker Award from Wharton University.

At HLS, Mr. Chenault was a member of his 20th Reunion Gift Committee and has been a member of the Dean's Advisory Board since it's inception in 1997.

Mr. Chenault and his wife, Kathryn, recently were honored by the Citizens Committee of New York for their extraordinary contributions to the City of New York. They have two sons, Kenneth Jr. and Kevin.