• April 2, 2003

American Express announced a series of five television spots featuring basketball players and coaches, the first time the company has used NBA and WNBA players in national television advertising. The new campaign highlights the attributes of both leagues, including diversity, passion, dedication and fun, and pairs them with American Express. The ads broke Monday and run throughout the NBA playoffs, NBA finals and the WNBA season. The new spots build on "The Official Card" campaign American Express launched last summer during the US Open Tennis Championships. The umbrella campaign for sponsorships leverages the Official Card status American Express holds with a number of sports and entertainment properties. "The rollout of the 'Official Card' campaign allows us to engage our Cardmembers in a number of premiere events by showing the unexpected sides of great achievers. The NBA and WNBA ads showcase the fun of the game, the international appeal of the sports and the way athletes do common things in uncommon ways, just like our Cardmembers," said Richard Quigley, SVP/global advertising for American Express.