These five CEOs prove that you don’t necessarily need decades of experience to run a successful company. Among the bosses of Fortune 500 companies, the biggest corporations in the United States, the average age is a venerable 58. But the youngest CEO, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, is just 32.
International Youth Day, held every year on 12 August, highlights the potential of young people the world over to make as much of a difference as their elders and betters. This year, the day's theme is focused on the United Nations Global Goals and the “leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development”.
These are the five youngest Fortune 500 CEOs, according to Fortune.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and Chairman of Facebook: 32
Zuckerberg has been CEO of the social media giant since 2004, having founded the company while still a student at Harvard.
Keith Cozza, President, CEO and Director of Icahn Enterprises LP: 37
Cozza has been CEO of Icahn, a New York-based conglomerate company with investments in everything from energy and metals to food packaging and real estate, since 2014.
Stefan Larsson, President, CEO and Director of Ralph Lauren: 41
Previously at H&M and Old Navy, Larsson was handed the reins to the company by Ralph Lauren himself, after nearly 50 years of running the company.
Larry Page, CEO and Director of Alphabet Inc: 43
Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998, when they were both Stanford PhD students. He was named CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, when it was formed last year.
Jeffrey J. Brown, CEO and Director of Ally Financial: 43
Made CEO of Ally Financial last year, Brown was previously at Bank of America. Ally Financial, formerly known as GMAC, is the US’s biggest auto lender.
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