Learn about how the Young President's Organization (YPO) can help you connect with other business leaders to address challenges.

About YPO

Young Presidents’ Organization is a global network of young chief executives that connects 17,000 peers and their families in 100 countries to address the challenges leaders face today. Guided by the mission of building Better Leaders Through Education and Idea ExchangeTM, members have access to unique experiences, world-class resources, alliances with top learning institutions, and specialized Networks that help enhance their business, community and personal leadership.

YPO was founded in 1950 by manufacturer Ray Hickok, who inherited his family’s company that had 300 employees. He and other young presidents began meeting regularly as a way to become better leaders by learning from each other. This founding principle still guides the organization today.

YPO members are required to “graduate” from the organization at age 50, with many joining World Presidents’ Organization, or WPO, a group founded in 1970 by 200 former YPO members to sustain their YPO experience. Originally called World Business Council, the group changed its name to World Presidents’ Organization in 1991 to reflect its rapid growth in membership and global reach. In July 2007, YPO and WPO merged to form a single, global network, enhancing the membership experience for both organizations.

In aggregate, the companies run by YPO members employ more than 15 million people and generate US$5.4 trillion in annual revenues.

There are more than 550 active members in 15 YPO and six WPO chapters in the Middle East/North Africa region.

See pdf for full MENA factsheet.