American Express cut the COO position in its business travel group and named Priyan Fernando EVP of a new firmwide global operations unit

as part of a shakeup in the executive suite that also has the global heads of commercial card (Anre Williams) and travel (Charles Petruccelli) reporting directly to CEO and chairman Ken Chenault. Their former boss, vice chairman Ed Gilligan, has taken on consumer and small business responsibilities given up by departing executive Al Kelly, who is seeking a CEO position elsewhere. Asked about possible changes to the global advisory services consulting group within business travel or the company's financial reporting based on segments including Global Commercial Services, a spokeswoman said, "It's probably too early to determine if there are other tweaks with this reorganization."