Zipcar Inc. announced March 15 the nomination of three Class 1 directors including Ed Gilligan, vice chairman of American Express Co., to its board of directors.

Gilligan has been nominated for election at Zipcar’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 31, 2012, along with Zipcar Chairman and CEO Scott Griffith and long-time board member Bob Kagle. Gilligan is expected to replace Jill Preotle, who has served as a member of the Zipcar board since December 2002 and has elected not to stand for re-election at this year’s annual meeting.

In his role as vice chairman of American Express, Gilligan is responsible for the company’s global consumer, small business services, merchant services and network services groups, and has led numerous M&A efforts for American Express. He has also been active in the digital transformation of the company, focusing on a growth strategy to position American Express as a leader in digital commerce.

“Ed’s experience in global expansion, member-based product, and service offerings and digital commerce will be a tremendous asset as we continue to deepen our level of member engagement and seek to grow our footprint internationally,” Griffith said. “I would like to thank Jill for her 10 years of service on Zipcar’s board of directors. Her leadership and support, along with her extensive knowledge of our business and the industry, have been instrumental in helping Zipcar get where we are today.”