Kofi Annan announced as speaker for 2016 YPO EDGE event in Dubai

• Former Secretary General of the United Nations to speak at the landmark 
• Young Presidents’ Organization event in MENA

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1 February 2016 – Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), the world’s premier global network of young chief executives and business leaders, has today announced that Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, will deliver an address at its annual landmark event, YPO EDGE.

For two days in March, YPO members, their spouses, partners and invited guests from more than 100 countries will convene with world-renowned global thought leaders to address key issues in business, politics, philanthropy and humanities. Topics of discussion include innovations in social entrepreneurship, medical breakthroughs, the future of business around the world, and women entrepreneurship, among others. The event, held on a different continent every year, offers exceptional educational opportunities while helping the global leaders of today shape the world of tomorrow.

“Kofi Annan is a transformational leader for the world,” said Scott Mordell, CEO, YPO. “His ability to build partnerships around the globe and harness the power of human potential is truly remarkable, and we are thrilled to welcome him in Dubai as our keynote speaker for the EDGE 2016.”

A lineup of internationally renowned speakers has been announced for the event to share insights from their careers as entrepreneurs, angel investors, business leaders, humanitarians and philanthropists focused on elevating self-sufficiency through education, technology and access to opportunity around the world, including YPO member Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, the award-winning creator of “The 99,” the first group of Islamic superheroes. Other speakers include Shereen El Feki, author of “Sex and the Citadel: Intimate Life in a Changing Arab World” and YPO member Kat Cole, former president of Cinnabon Inc., and now group president of Cinnabon's parent company, Focus Brands.  

YPO recently announced that, for the first time, the EDGE event will be hosted in the Middle East region with more than 2,000 innovative business leaders from around the world attending the event.  According to Mordell, the continued growth of the region makes it the perfect platform for EDGE. 

“MENA is one of the most consistently growing regions globally, and Dubai in particular has solidified its position as an economic development hub among the leading growth centers of the world,” he said.

“At YPO, our common goal is to create better business leadership through education and idea exchange, supporting businesses and communities around the world. The theme of the 2016 event is ‘Vision to Reality’, and no other region in the world represents this as well as MENA. We look forward to welcoming all of our speakers and members from around the globe to Dubai in March.”

Founded in 1950, YPO today provides 23,000 CEOs and their families in 130 countries with access to unique experiences, extraordinary educational resources, access to alliances with leading institutions, and participation in specialized networks to support their business, community and personal leadership.
Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people around the world and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues.