8-K

================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                           --------------------------

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 26, 2000
                           --------------------------



                            AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                           --------------------------



          New York                      1-7657                 13-4922250
- ------------------------------   ------------------------    -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation or                                   Identification No.)
        organization)



       200 Vesey Street, World Financial Center
                  New York, New York                       10285
       ----------------------------------------          ----------
       (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 640-2000

               ---------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



================================================================================


Item 5. Other Events

     On April 26, 2000 the Registrant issued a press release announcing the
appointment of Gary Crittenden as its executive vice president and chief
financial officer. Portions of such press release are filed herein as
Exhibit 99.1.



                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                       AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
                                       (REGISTRANT)



                                        By /s/  Stephen P. Norman
                                           --------------------------
                                         Name:  Stephen P. Norman
                                         Title: Secretary

DATE:   April 27, 2000



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Item No.                          Description
- ----------                        -----------

99.1            Portions of press release announcing the appointment of
                Gary Crittenden as executive vice president and chief
                financial officer of American Express Company.

EX-99.1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1


NEW YORK, April 26, 2000 -- American Express announced today the appointment
of Gary Crittenden as executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Mr. Crittenden will also join the company's Planning and Policy Committee. He
succeeds Richard Karl Goeltz, who, as previously announced, plans to retire
from corporate life.

      As CFO, Mr. Crittenden will provide leadership to the company's Finance
group, be a key advisor on strategic and financial matters worldwide, and
represent American Express to investors, lenders and rating agencies.

      Mr. Crittenden joins American Express from Pharmacia, a global
pharmaceutical and agricultural company, where he led the integration process
following the recent merger of Pharmacia & Upjohn with the Monsanto company.
Prior to the merger, he was senior vice president and chief financial officer
for Monsanto.

      Before joining Monsanto, he built a distinguished career in
finance, operating as the chief financial officer at Sears Roebuck & Co.,
Melville Corporation, and Filene's Basement.

      Mr. Crittenden began his career in consulting at Bain & Company, where he
worked on a range of strategic projects in the United States and in Germany.
He received a B.S. from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Harvard
University.

     American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and
network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and
credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business
services, insurance and international banking.