YPO (formerly Young Presidents' Organization) is a US-based organization of chief executives with more than 36,000 members in more than 142 countries.

History

YPO was founded in 1950 in Rochester, New York, by manufacturer Ray Hickok, who was 27 years old when he became the head of his family's Rochester-based Hickok Belt, a 300-employee company. The first meeting was held in 1950 at the Waldorf Astoria New York and was attended by Robert Wood Johnson III (Johnson & Johnson). Hickok and a small group of young presidents in the area began meeting regularly to share and learn from each other. According to the organization, its founding principle is that of education and idea exchange among peers.

Demographics

As of 2024, there are more than 450 chapters worldwide and more than 36,000 members.

Membership requirements

To qualify for membership, a person must have become, before age 45, the president or chairman and chief executive officer of a corporation of significance with a minimum revenue of $15,000,000 for a sales, service, manufacturing company. Minimum revenue of $12,000,000 for an agency and $300,000,000 for a financial institution or an enterprise value at a minimum of $25,000,000. The company must have 50 full time employees or 15 + employees with a minimum $2,500,000 USD Annual Employee Compensation. The financial criteria differ for service companies and banks. Candidates must be typically recommended by two members of a local chapter and approved by a membership committee of each local chapter. Baseline entry and yearly membership fees are around $10,000 though these can be significantly higher depending on the chapter and other activities.

Notable members

YPO EDGE

YPO hosts its leadership gathering, YPO EDGE, each year in a different city. Previous host cities include:

Publications

Pat McNees, YPO: The First 50 Years. (Orange Frazer Press, 1999). ISBN 978-1-882203-59-8