Barron’s profiles Ken Chenault ’73, in its latest CEO Spotlight, praising the chief executive of American Express for leading the company “with a sure hand through some of the most horrific episodes in recent American history,” including the 9-11 attacks and the credit crisis of 2008-09.

Throughout this turbulent decade, the company has maintained stability and profitability. AmEx earned $4.9 billion, or $4.12 a share last year, on revenue of $30 billion. “Under Chenault’s leadership, American Express shares have returned 26.8%, dividends included, endowing the company with a current market value of $61 billion,” according to the article.

Barron’s characterizes Chenault as “elegant and polished, yet down to earth. “¦ [He] counsels other executives to “˜stand for something’ and be clear about their values.” He also pushes them to change. He tells the magazine, “One of the lessons I often talk about, both inside and outside the company, is that you can become very complacent with success, and success can become a rut.”

Chenault says he is also a big believer in constructive confrontation, which he encourages in meetings. “Borrowing a famous phrase from Napoleon, he says the role of a leader is “˜to face reality but give hope,'” the magazine states.

After Chenault graduated from Bowdoin magna cum laude with honors in history, he attended Harvard Law School and went to work for Rogers & Wells, a New York law firm, before heading to Bain & Co., the management consultant. He has been CEO of American Express since 2001.