2025 TRAILBLAZER HONOREE

Jessica Ling

Executive Vice President, Global Advertising, American Express

As Executive Vice President of Global Advertising at American Express, Jessica (Jess) Ling is focused on modernizing and protecting the 175-year heritage of the American Express brand while delivering meaningful growth for the company. She leads teams responsible for global media and creative content, social and influencer marketing, measurement and analytics, as well as American Express’ in-house creative agency, OnBrand, and brand platforms including Shop Small.

Jess has over 20 years of experience as a brand builder and revenue driver, with a successful track record of launching global brands and products, leading and inspiring teams and agency partners, and delivering measurable business impact. Since joining American Express in 2019, she has held several senior marketing roles spanning both brand and performance marketing. Prior to American Express, she was Head of B2B Marketing at Verizon Media, where she led a cross-functional revenue marketing organization. Throughout her career, Jess has blended creative innovation with deep commercial acumen and an unwavering commitment to developing and nurturing talent.

Jess holds an M.A. from New York University and a B.S. in Marketing from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her partner and two children.

Nominated By: 

Elizabeth Rutledge

Chief Marketing Officer, American Express

Elizabeth Rutledge is the Chief Marketing Officer at American Express, overseeing global media, sponsorships, experiences, strategic brand planning, and customer insights. Elizabeth is passionate about providing the “Powerful Backing” of American Express and demonstrating what it means to colleagues, customers, and communities around the world. 

Prior to becoming CMO and a member of the Executive Committee in 2018, Elizabeth held various product, marketing, and insights roles at American Express. Previously, she was Executive Vice President, U.S. Card Products and Benefits, leading American Express’ Consumer Charge and Lending portfolios, Co-Brand products, and Membership Rewards. Prior, she was Executive Vice President, Global Network Marketing and Information, where she delivered powerful marketing and insights to global merchants. 

Elizabeth has been named one of Fast Company’s CMOs of the Year and Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs, an Adweek Marketing Vanguard, an AdAge Woman to Watch, and one of She Runs It’s Women of the Year. She is also the recipient of an Adweek Brand Genius Award, a Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications, and a Marketer of the Year Award from the Advertising Club of NY.

Elizabeth sits on the Board of Directors for the Association of National Advertisers, the Ad Council, and the YMCA of Greater New York. She is also the Global Executive Sponsor of the colleague Disability Awareness Network at American Express. 

She is a graduate of Princeton University and holds an MBA from New York University.