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.[2]
The first meeting was held in 1950 at the Waldorf Astoria New York and was attended by Robert Wood Johnson III (Johnson & Johnson).[3] 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.[4]
The first non-U.S. chapter was created in 1956 in Ontario, Canada.
In July 2024, YPO elected Sofyan Almoayed as the 2024-2025 Chairman of its Board of Directors[12]
Demographics
As of 2024, there are more than 450 chapters worldwide and more than 36,000 members.[13][14]
24% of new members are now women from 13% in 2012
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. [15] The financial criteria differ for service companies and banks.[3] Candidates must be typically recommended by two members of a local chapter and approved by a membership committee of each local chapter.[3] Baseline entry and yearly membership fees are around $10,000 though these can be significantly higher depending on the chapter and other activities.[citation needed]
Sheri Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Shell Mauritius Limited and Founder, YPO Global One Chapter
Asha Saxena, founder of WLDA and Board Member, of YPO Chapter Global One (2012–Present)
Xavier Mufraggi, former CEO of Club Med EMEA and CEO of YPO since 2020
William C. Short, Founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of the A.E. Perkins Holdings Group, former Chairman and Board Member of the YPO North Texas Chapter
YPO EDGE
YPO hosts its leadership gathering, YPO EDGE, each year in a different city. Previous host cities include:
In October 2024, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office declared YPO's activities as undesirable within the Russian Federation, alleging that the organization aims to influence public opinion leaders in favor of U.S. interests.[25]
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