10 American Express corporate development leaders
Sejal Patel, Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions at American Express, is the most senior of these American Express corporate development leaders, who also hold vice president and director titles in M&A, corporate development and strategy. A reader can learn how corporate development leaders work at American Express from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Alexandra Merkin
LinkedInExperience: Director, Strategy and M&A · American Express
Alexandra Merkin has been Director, Strategy and M&A at American Express since October 2024. Alexandra Merkin was a Manager (2022–2024) and a Consultant (2020–2022) at Bain & Company, and a Manager at Capgemini Invent (2018–2019), according to the profile.
Andrew Zwicker
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Corporate Development (M&A) · American Express
Andrew Zwicker has been Vice President, Corporate Development (M&A) at American Express since March 2022. Andrew Zwicker was Director, Strategy & Operations at Resy (2019–2022), and at American Express held Director, Corporate Development, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) (2017–2019) and Manager, Corporate Development, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) (2015–2017).
Gwen Dougherty
LinkedInExperience: Director, Corporate Development · American Express
Gwen Dougherty has been Director, Corporate Development at American Express since September 2025, the only work row the source lists for this profile. The profile headline and About section give the same title, Director, Corporate Development, in the New York City Metropolitan Area.
James Goldsmith
LinkedInExperience: Director, Global Strategy and M&A · American Express
James Goldsmith has been Director, Global Strategy and M&A at American Express since April 2021. At American Express, James Goldsmith also held Senior Manager, Global Premium Products & Benefits (2020–2021), Senior Manager, Strategic Planning (2018–2020) and Manager, Consumer Marketing (2016–2018).
Jon Simonett
LinkedInExperience: Director, Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate Development · American Express
Jon Simonett has been Director, Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate Development at American Express since January 2024, and was Manager, Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate Development there (2022–2024). At Barclays Investment Bank, Jon Simonett was a Healthcare Associate (2020–2021) and a Healthcare Analyst (2017–2020).
Lindsay Kokol
LinkedInExperience: Director - M&A / Corporate Development · American Express
Lindsay Kokol has been Director - M&A / Corporate Development at American Express since March 2022, and was Manager - M&A / Corporate Development there (2020–2022). Lindsay Kokol was Associate Vice President - Finance at Ares Management (2016–2020) and Senior Associate - Business Valuation at Deloitte (2013–2016).
Rodrigo Tcacenco
LinkedInExperience: Mergers & Acquisitions Vice President, Corporate Development · American Express
Rodrigo Tcacenco has been Mergers & Acquisitions Vice President, Corporate Development at American Express since March 2022. At American Express, Rodrigo Tcacenco also held Mergers & Acquisitions Director, Corporate Development (2021–2022), Mergers & Acquisitions Manager, Corporate Development (2018–2019 and 2020–2021) and Finance Manager - Global Merchant Services (2019–2020).
Samantha Smith
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Mergers Acquisition · American Express
Samantha Smith has been Vice President Mergers Acquisition at American Express since May 2025, and was Director, Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate Development at American Express (2022–2025). Samantha Smith worked in Corporate Development at Dell Technologies Capital (2016–2022) and was a Rotational Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (2011–2014).
Sejal Patel
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions · American Express
Sejal Patel has been Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions at American Express since May 2022, and was MD, M&A and Amex Ventures at American Express in 2023. At MetLife, Sejal Patel was Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions (2019–2022) and Assistant Vice President, Corporate Development Mergers & Acquisitions (2017–2019).
Theresa Mercadante
LinkedInExperience: Director, M&A / Corporate Development · American Express
Theresa Mercadante has been Director, M&A / Corporate Development at American Express since September 2026, and the profile also lists Manager, M&A / Corporate Development at American Express from April 2024. At Credit Suisse, Theresa Mercadante was an Investment Banking Associate (2020–2023) and an Investment Banking Analyst (2018–2020).
Choose the right perspective
Pick a managing director or vice president for questions about how acquisition priorities are set, and a director for questions about running a deal process day to day. Someone whose title pairs strategy with M&A suits questions that start from a strategic question rather than a specific transaction.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does a corporate development group at a payments company decide which acquisitions fit its strategy?
- 02How do strategy and M&A teams at a card company work together before a deal is approved?
- 03What does a corporate development director at a payments company do on a typical transaction?
Reaching American Express corporate development leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.