American Express Reviews in London, UK Area

Pros

Varied and global opportunities for development, global outlook. The opportunity to meet diverse and interesting people in a variety of locations.

Cons

Short term thinking, particulary around the PMP process. Organisations, driven by senior leaders, are entirely focussed on deliverables in the current year, the bigger, long term picture is almost always forgotten. Kneejerk and inaffective cost cutting measures are implemented only to hit quarterly targets, whatever the claims of the companies leaders, this is a short term focussed organisation. A large number of employees appear 'brainwashed' and accept the regular spin from senior leaders. Senior leaders also do not 'practice what they preach'

Advice to Senior Management

To look further than the next 3 months.

Pros

Interesting for people who do not want to work hard.
There are a lot of women in this company.
Very agressive towards men.

Cons

low quality of management both middle and senior
poor culture

Advice to Senior Management

come back to old fashioned management

Pros

Brand, overall people commitment, product leadership in affluent segment

Cons

Politics, US centric, high concentration of profits around very few products

Advice to Senior Management

sell travel business

Pros

good pay. nice offices. good teams.

Cons

bureaucracy everywhere. just wears you out, lose interest.

Advice to Senior Management

move around and talk to people.

Pros

People here are hard working, knowledeable and friendly, the matrix organisation works well when every one is engaged in a project. The company is very good on listening to staff needs and pays a lot of attention to employee engagement. I've worked for one terrible VP (on maternity leave now thankfully!!!) however general management standards are very good. Work life balance is promoted and management are keen to ensure that people are informed of any news as soon as possible, good location in london for commuters near Victoria station. Overall one of the best companies I've worked for, and I've worked for a few!!!

Cons

Pay isn't the best to be fair.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing what you're doing in terms of employee engagement, however you do need to review comps and bens!

Pros

Flexibility to balance work and life, absolutely feel no guilt in taking time off for work for example. Friend who is pregnant (and going on maternity) was recently promoted to VP despite her condition -- she was the right person for the job. They will allow her to work from home for the first year. Focus on professional and personal development -- my leader spends significant time with me to review my 360-degree reviews, create development plan, and put real resources and time behind my development (even at specific cost to the company). Great decision to join American Express in London.

Cons

Employees have the ability to change jobs every 12-18 months, which is great. But the downside is that this creates a void of institutional knowledge. A lot of time is spent re-inventing the wheel and/or tracking down the people that originally worked on a project. American Express is also a very heavily matrixed organization, so it takes a lot of patience and influential abilities to get things done. You are often goaled against objectives over which you do not have direct control. This has certainly been an area of frustration, particularly if your goals are not aligned with those you are trying to work through.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep it up!