American Express president dies

The president of American Express Co. collapsed and died on the way home from a business trip Friday morning, sending shock waves through the New York company where he had worked since he was a college student.

Edward Gilligan, 55, was traveling on a corporate plane returning to New York from Japan when he fell ill, according to the company.

Dow Jones Newswires reports Gilligan had been the likely successor to company CEO Kenneth Chenault, who turns 64 next week. Without Gilligan, there's no clear successor, according to the report.

Read more from Dow Jones Newswires.