Former Visa CEO Charles T. Russell Passes Away
Charles T. Russell, former CEO of Visa International, died on Labor Day in a tragic motorcycle accident in northern California. Russell was CEO of Visa International from 1984 to his retirement in 1994. He was 78 years old.
Several of us at Glenbrook worked with Chuck at Visa and have many fond memories of his leadership during those years. He frequently commuted to work by air - piloting his own plane over San Francisco Bay - and loved his Harley-Davidsons. Chuck was a truly gifted leader for Visa - he had just the right touch. We miss him - and our sincere condolences go out to his family.
Glad you mentioned this as many of us would have missed it otherwise. You may know I was at Visa around 79-82 during the 'Hock" years. Russell, though, was the talk with his Harley (even thru the AMC years, as only HD owners may know), and also his old VW which he would take to the airport parking lot in case of vandals. Although I am saddened with his passing, I am currently on a trip with my Harley, and maybe there is no better way to go than doing what you love to do.
Posted by: Donald Neff | September 05, 2008 at 09:57 PM
I have lost 2 great friends Frank ( Phil )Giltner( also from Visa ) and now Chuck Russell, God bless you both and God's speed,they were great friends here at Pauma Valley and I will miss them,we were Harley guys, my condolences to the family and all who had the chance to have crossed their path in life I have learned so much from you, Thank you for being a part of my life.
Aloha My friend,
Capt. A Tempel
PVCSD
Posted by: Capt. Albert Tempel | September 05, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Chuck was not a scripted CEO. When publicly kidded at an ABA convention by his MasterCard counterpart that there were condoms branded Visa on the market, Chuck started his public remarks by acknowledging that it just proved the point that Visa was everywhere you want to be. This was duly reported in the American Banker.
Posted by: Broox Peterson | September 06, 2008 at 01:34 PM