Alexander Drummond
About Alexander Drummond
Alexander Drummond (age 44) is a Class II director of Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (GBTG) since June 5, 2024; he serves on the Risk Management & Compliance Committee and was nominated by American Express pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement . He is Executive Vice President and General Manager of Membership Portfolio Services at American Express; previously Chief Strategy Officer (Jul 2021–Oct 2024), and chairs the board of American Express Carte France . Drummond holds an MBA from INSEAD (Singapore) and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Université Catholique de Louvain . He is not listed among the company’s independent directors under NYSE standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Company | EVP & GM, Membership Portfolio Services; formerly Chief Strategy Officer | EVP & GM: current; CSO: Jul 2021–Oct 2024 | Leads key membership services including Dining, Offers, Media Services; enterprise strategy leadership |
| Boston Consulting Group | Managing Director & Partner; led Payments & Transaction Banking NA | Prior to 2021 | Led growth strategy, cost transformation, customer journey redesign, cobrand negotiations, strategic diligence for FI clients |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Carte France | Chairman of the Board | Current | American Express French legal entity; governance leadership |
Board Governance
- Board classification: Class II director; term expires at the 2027 annual meeting .
- Committee assignments: Risk Management & Compliance Committee member (Chair: Kathleen Winters); committee met four times in 2024 .
- Independence: Not among eight “independent directors” per NYSE standards (controlled company exception applies) .
- Attendance: In 2024, the Board met seven times; all incumbent directors attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings except one (Al‑Sowaidi at 73%), implying Drummond met the ≥75% threshold after his June 5, 2024 appointment .
- Executive sessions: Non‑management directors held executive sessions at each regularly scheduled Board meeting in 2024 .
- Nomination rights: American Express (Amex), QIA, and Expedia have director nomination and specified approval rights under the Shareholders Agreement; Amex nominated Drummond .
Fixed Compensation
- Director Compensation Policy (2024): Annual cash retainer $85,000; RSU grant $160,000; committee member fees $10,000; meeting fee premium $2,000; Chair retainers vary by committee; Board Chair: $485,000 cash + $160,000 RSUs .
- Director Compensation Policy (2025 update): Annual cash retainer $85,000; RSU grant increased to $200,000; Board Chair supplemental cash retainer $400,000; meeting fee premium $2,000; committee member fees $10,000 (Chair fees as listed) .
- Drummond’s 2024 actual director pay: | Component | Amount ($) | |---|---| | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | 54,025 | | Stock Awards (RSUs) | 160,000 | | Total | 214,025 |
Performance Compensation
| Performance-Based Components | Status |
|---|---|
| Director equity grants (RSUs) | Time-based vesting to next annual meeting; no performance metrics disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship | Potential Interlock/Conflict Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| American Express Company (Amex) | Current senior executive (EVP & GM); Amex nominated Drummond to GBTG Board | Amex is a major shareholder (33%) and holds approval rights under the Shareholders Agreement; director not independent |
| American Express Carte France | Chairman | Governance role within Amex group; ties to controlling shareholder |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Strategy, payments, and technology leadership (Amex CSO; BCG payments practice leadership) .
- Board leadership experience (Chair, Amex Carte France) .
- Education: MBA (INSEAD, Singapore); master’s in electrical engineering (UCLouvain) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Drummond | 25,039 | <1% | Includes 25,039 RSUs scheduled to vest June 11, 2025; beneficial ownership includes unvested RSUs with voting rights per methodology |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited for directors under insider trading policy | — | No pledging/hedging of company stock permitted |
Vesting detail:
- RSUs scheduled to vest on June 11, 2025: 25,039 (pro‑rated from 2024 annual grant to next annual meeting) .
Governance Assessment
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Positive indicators:
- Active member of the Risk Management & Compliance Committee; committee oversees non‑financial compliance, enterprise risk identification and mitigation, and culture of compliance .
- Board and committee attendance ≥75% threshold in 2024; participation in executive sessions enhances independent oversight dynamics despite non‑independent status .
- Standard director pay mix with increased 2025 RSU grant aligns director incentives with shareholders; use of independent consultant (Semler Brossy) for compensation benchmarking .
-
Risks and potential conflicts (RED FLAGS):
- Non‑independent director due to current Amex executive role and nomination by Amex; Amex is a 33% holder with specified Board composition and approval rights, which can constrain governance flexibility (controlled company considerations) .
- Shareholders Agreement grants Amex, Expedia, and QIA consent rights on certain corporate actions, elevating related‑party influence; investors should monitor decisions implicating Amex regulatory considerations under the BHC Act .
- Ownership alignment is limited in magnitude (25,039 shares, <1%); while RSUs provide some alignment, prohibition on pledging reduces financing flexibility but supports governance hygiene .
-
Related‑party exposure:
- No Drummond‑specific transactions disclosed; however, extensive shareholder agreements and registration/exchange rights involve Amex and other large holders; monitor for transactions where Amex’s interests intersect with GBTG strategic decisions .
-
Director compensation and alignment:
- 2024 compensation comprised cash plus RSUs vesting at the 2025 annual meeting, consistent with policy; 2025 policy increases equity grant, modestly strengthening pay‑for‑ownership alignment for non‑employee directors .
Overall, Drummond brings deep payments/strategy expertise and risk committee engagement, but his Amex executive status and the controlled company structure introduce independence and influence concerns that investors should weigh when evaluating board effectiveness and potential conflicts .