Kerri-Ann Santaguida of American Express Canada named a WXN 2016 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner

American Express Canada top executive joins community of Canada's most iconic women leaders

TORONTO, Nov. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - American Express Canada is pleased to announce that Kerri-Ann Santaguida, Vice President and General Manager, Merchant Services, American Express Canada has been named a Women's Executive Network (WXN) 2016 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner.

Launched in 2003, the Top 100 Awards celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Canada's top female executive talent as well as their organizations and networks. Kerri-Ann, who received the RBC Champions Award for making a difference in the advancement of women in the Canadian workplace, was honoured during a gala celebration at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 24.

Kerri-Ann joined American Express Canada in 2002 and has been a key member of the Canadian leadership team since taking on a Vice President role in late 2008. Throughout this time, she has had a profound impact in helping the company further develop its female empowerment initiatives and charitable programs, such as being the Executive sponsor for the Woman's Interest Network for American Express Canada employees.

As a proud supporter of women in leadership, American Express Canada continuously provides opportunities for women like Kerri-Ann to help them thrive and succeed within the financial services industry. Since December 2010, American Express Canada has increased the number of women in its executive ranks from 42% to over 50%, in part due to the various programs in place to help enhance career opportunities for women. A key example is through the Women at Amex initiative, which promotes leadership and growth opportunities for women in the workplace.

"I am humbled and thankful to be recognized as a winner of Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award," said Kerri-Ann Santaguida, Vice President and General Manager, Merchant Services, American Express Canada. "As a champion for female development and leadership, I couldn't feel more honoured to win an award from an organization like WXN."

The Top 100 Awards serve to recognize talented leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and to inspire the current and next generation to push the boundaries of what's possible.

"Women are not just leading companies, headlines and new deals, we're doing so in record numbers. In addition to closing the gender gap for participation in post-secondary education and the workforce, we're excelling at the top levels of every sector," says WXN Owner and CEO, Sherri Stevens. "When WXN created Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, part of the purpose was celebration. By recognizing a community of now 939 remarkable women, we get the opportunity to look back and appreciate the hard work and hurdle jumping it took to get here."

Kerri-Ann joins a prestigious community of past Award Winners, including Canada's most iconic women trailblazers: Margaret Atwood, best-selling author; Dr. Roberta Bondar, astronaut; Arlene Dickinson, chief executive officer, Venture Communications; Christine Magee, president, Sleep Country Canada; Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada; Heather Reisman, founder and chief executive officer, Indigo Books & Music; and, Kathleen Taylor, chair of the board, Royal Bank of Canada.

The full list of WXN's 2016 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners can be found at https://www.wxnetwork.com/top-100/top-100-winners/.

About Kerri-Ann Santaguida
Kerri-Ann is Vice President and General Manager, Merchant Services Canada. Appointed to the role in Sept of 2015, Kerri-Ann oversees the Global Merchant Services Business across Canada.  She is also a member of the Merchant Services Americas Leadership Team, the Canadian Executive Team and a member of Senior Management of Amex Bank of Canada.

She is active in the community, serving as the former Chair of the School Council for St John of the Cross School.  Additionally, she is the Executive sponsor for the Woman's Interest Network (WIN) Employee Network for American Express in Canada and an Alumna of The Judy Project, a Leadership Forum for Executive Women.

About American Express in Canada

American Express in Canada operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American Express charge and credit cards, with outstanding products like The SimplyCash™ Card from American Express ©, The American Express® Gold Rewards Card, and the American Express® AeroplanPlus® Gold Card. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853. For more information, visit AmericanExpress.ca or connect with us at Facebook.com/AmericanExpressCanada and YouTube.com/AmericanExpressCAD.

More information and details are available at http://www.americanexpress.com/canada.

About the Women's Executive Network (WXN)

At WXN, we inspire smart women to lead. WXN delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to inform, inspire, connect and recognize our global community of more than 22,000 women, men and their organizations. WXN enables our partners and corporate members to become and to be recognized as employers of choice and leaders in the advancement of women.

Founded in 1997, WXN is Canada's leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles. WXN is led by CEO Sherri Stevens, owner of the award-winning, multi-million dollar Workforce Management Company Stevens Resource Group Inc., which she established in 1990. In 2008, WXN launched in Ireland, followed by London, UK in 2015, creating an international community of female leaders.

More information and details are available at www.wxnetwork.com or www.top100women.ca. 

SOURCE American Express Canada

Image with caption: "Kerri-Ann Santaguida of American Express Canada named a WXN 2016 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner (CNW Group/American Express Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161124_C7528_PHOTO_EN_825235.jpg

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview with WXN Owner and CEO Sherri Stevens, please contact: Samantha Detwiler, Harbinger Communications, 416-960-5100 ext. 246, [email protected]; Gabi Eliasoph, Harbinger Communications, 416-960-5100 ext. 287, [email protected]