CO-FOUNDERS 
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  1. Rich DeVos 

     

  2. Jay Van Andel 

     

  3. Steve Van Andel 

     

  4. Doug DeVos 

     

  5. Bill Payne 

     

  6. Jim Payne 

     

  7. Eva Cheng 

     

  8. Al Koop 

     

Rich DeVos 

Insert hero content for first frame here. In 1959, Rich DeVos founded Amway Corp. with his lifelong friend and business partner, the late Jay Van Andel. The direct selling company now operates in more than 80 countries and territories around the world, and enables more than 3 million people to own independent businesses.

DeVos has also owned a number of professional sports franchises, including the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He is the author of four books: Believe!, Compassionate Capitalism, Hope from My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life, and Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People . A renowned speaker, he has appeared before hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. His recorded talk, "Selling America," received the Alexander Hamilton Award for Economic Education from the Freedoms Foundation. After receiving a heart transplant in 1997, he became chairman of the Speakers Bureau for United Network for Organ Sharing.

DeVos and his wife, Helen, generously support hospitals, colleges and universities, arts organizations and Christian causes in their hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., and they support numerous organizations in Central Florida. Among the many institutions they have helped create are DeVos Children's Hospital, the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, the DeVos Communications Center at Calvin College, the DeVos Campus of Grand Valley State University, and the DeVos Place convention center. Florida contributions include the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida, and the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. DeVos is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School and attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. He served in the United States Air Force from 1944 to 1946.

Rich and Helen have four children and 16 grandchildren. Their youngest son, Doug, is president of Amway.
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Jay Van Andel 

Insert hero content for second frame here. In 1959, Jay Van Andel founded Amway Corp. with his lifelong friend and business partner, Rich DeVos. The direct selling company now operates in more than 80 countries and territories around the world, and enables more than 3 million people to own independent businesses.

Van Andel was a lifelong advocate of free enterprise. He was a past Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Jamestown Foundation, U.S. Ambassador and Commissioner General to Genoa Expo '92 and Trustee of the Heritage Foundation. In his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., he was the founder of the Van Andel Institute for Education and Medical Research, founding Chairman of the Right Place Committee, and through the Jay and Betty Van Andel Foundation, contributed to significant community projects in economic development, health care, education, and the arts.

He was a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School and attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, Pratt Business School in Pratt, Kan., and Yale University Aviation Cadet School in New Haven, Conn. He served as a United States Army Air Force Officer from 1942 to 1945, and as a Reserve Officer from 1945 to 1950.

The Van Andel children serve as members of the company board. Steve Van Andel is chairman of Amway. 
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Steve Van Andel 

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Chairman

Steve Van Andel is responsible for managing daily operations of the company. He shares Amway’s Office of the Chief Executive with president Doug DeVos.  

Van Andel has been chairman of the $8.2 billion company since 1995, and is the oldest son of Amway co-founder Jay Van Andel. In 1959, Jay and his lifelong friend and business partner, Rich DeVos, started Amway from their homes in Ada, Michigan. In five decades, Amway has grown from a small company selling a single cleaning product into one of the world’s largest direct selling companies. Van Andel succeeded his father as chairman in 1995. As chairman, he led the expansion of Amway into a stronger and more diversified company to be more competitive in the new economy.  

Before becoming chairman, Van Andel was Amway’s vice president – Americas, overseeing the company’s business operations in North and South America. He also served as vice president of marketing.  

On June 12, 2002, Van Andel concluded his one-year term as the chairman of the United States Chamber of Commerce. Following his term, Van Andel served as chairman of the board’s executive committee. He currently holds the position of past chairman and member of the board. Van Andel also continues his work on behalf of free trade as vice chairman of the U.S. Korea Business Council. In addition, he serves as chairman of the U.S. Chamber Audit Committee.  

Van Andel is dedicated to the renewal of downtown Grand Rapids, lending his time and support to the Grand Action Committee, the Van Andel Museum Center, and the Van Andel Institute, a major health research center in Grand Rapids. He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Seidman School of Business at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.  

Van Andel serves on the boards of the Michigan Business Leadership Council, Gerald R. Ford Foundation, and Grand Rapids John Ball Zoo Society. He also serves on the boards of the Borgess Metro Health Alliance, the Metropolitan Health Corp., and the Metropolitan Hospital Foundation in Grand Rapids.    

Van Andel earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, and is a current member of the school’s board of trustees. He earned an MBA in marketing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

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Doug DeVos 

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President

Doug DeVos oversees daily operations of the $8.2 billion company and shares Amway’s Office of the Chief Executive with chairman Steve Van Andel.

DeVos has spent his career building enthusiasm for the Amway business. His belief in its ability to foster entrepreneurs around the world is reflected in the company’s record of sales growth during his time as president.

He has also helped Amway grow into one of the world’s most international companies. More than 80% of the company’s revenue is generated outside the United States. The company’s 13,000-plus employees and more than 3 million affiliated distributors worldwide are fully reflective of their local cultures. DeVos has also served in various leadership positions in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.  

DeVos is the youngest son of Amway co-founder Rich DeVos. In 1959, Rich DeVos and his lifelong friend and business partner, Jay Van Andel, started Amway from their homes in Ada, Michigan. DeVos is involved in numerous international, national, and local business and civic organizations, including the World Federation Direct Selling Association, National Constitution Center, Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Gerald R. Ford Foundation, Early Childhood Commission, and Keystone Community Church.  

DeVos earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue’s School of Management. While at Purdue, he played quarterback for the Boilermakers football team. He is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Purdue’s Krannert School of Management.

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Bill Payne 

Insert hero content for fifth frame here. Bill Payne works with the company’s Office of the Chief Executive and assists in overseeing day-to-day management of Amway.

Payne is on his second tour of duty with Amway, having worked in sales and marketing from 1979 to 1985. He rejoined the firm in November 1999 to take on the chief of staff role. In this role, he was deeply involved in the October 2000 corporate restructuring that created Alticor as the parent company of Amway, Quixtar Inc., and Access Business Group, LLC.

Prior to his return, Payne served as president of The Windquest Group, a privately held, multi-company operating firm. He was also a partner in Payne-Zwiep and Company, a Grand Rapids-based mergers and acquisitions firm, and has also served in marketing and sales management positions with Owens-Illinois, Inc.

Payne was born in Lancaster, Ohio, and raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He is a graduate of Albion College, where he received a bachelor of arts degree, and Bowling Green State University, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration. He has also attended executive study programs at The University of Chicago and the University of Michigan.

Payne is active in a variety of business and community activities. He is a graduate of Leadership Grand Rapids and a life member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Payne is a member of the board of directors at Universal Forest Products, Inc. in Grand Rapids. He is also chairman of the board at Spring Hill Camps, and serves on the Macatawa Bank Business Advisory board. He is a member of Ada Bible Church.
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Jim Payne 

Insert hero content for sixth frame here. Jim Payne is responsible for Amway’s direct selling markets in North America, Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India and Latin America.Before being named to his current position in April 2005, Payne was senior vice president of Amway, responsible for numerous international affiliates. From 1999 through 2000, Payne served as president & representative director of Amway Japan, Ltd., and remains on the board of directors for the affiliate. Since 1980, his Amway career has taken him around the world with progressively more responsible positions, including director and then vice president of new market development, in which he was responsible for expanding Amway markets worldwide. Payne also served as general manager of Amway Germany, regional manager for the Poland and Switzerland affiliates, and managing director of Amway Thailand.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Payne earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. He is a member of the West Michigan World Affairs Council in Grand Rapids, and the Grand Rapids Economic Club. He is a member of the board of directors of the Van Andel Global Trade Center. He and his wife, Linda, serve on the board of Operation Smile – Michigan.
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Eva Cheng 

Insert hero content for seventh frame here. Eva Cheng serves as executive vice president, responsible for Amway markets in Greater China and Southeast Asia. Amway Greater China encompasses mainland China, Taiwan, Macau SAR, and Hong Kong SAR. Southeast Asia markets include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei.

Before assuming additional responsibility for the Southeast Asian markets in April 2005, Cheng was best known for driving the growth and development of Amway’s business in Greater China. Amway (China) Company Ltd. (ACCL) has regularly been recognized by business magazines, surveys, and government agencies as one of China’s most admired companies and best employers.

Cheng is a graduate of the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor of arts degree with honors and a master’s of business administration degree. She began her career with Amway in 1977.
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Al Koop 

Insert hero content for eighth frame here. As the chief operating officer, Al Koop oversees the people and facilities that handle research and development, purchasing, manufacturing, and distribution of products for Amway and its contract customers.

Under Koop’s direction, Amway has increased efficiency by developing third-party services to optimize operating capacity. During this time, Amway scientists have conducted award-winning health research, and all of Amway’s farms were certified organic. Also under Koop’s leadership, Amway used its expertise in Asian skin care to create the first product line to be specifically formulated for the skin of Asian- American women.

Previously, Koop was Amway’s senior vice president – Operations. His responsibilities included Amway’s manufacturing facilities in Michigan and California, as well as global distribution, information systems, forecasting/planning, engineering, purchasing, and import-export functions. In his tenure at Amway, Koop has held various positions throughout the company. His previous position was senior vice president and managing director – Americas and Europe, overseeing Amway’s business in those countries. Prior positions include vice president – International Distribution and Facilities Planning, and director – Regional Distribution Centers, where he was responsible for catalog, transportation, truck fleet, and import-export operations. He joined Amway in 1965 as an area coordinator in sales. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Koop earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.
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