{{Short description|American businessman and philanthropist (born 1934)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Emmanuel Kampouris | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1934|12|14}} | birth_place = Egypt | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) --> | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Business executive, philanthropist | years_active = | known_for = Chairman and CEO of American Standard Companies | spouse = {{unbulleted list|Myrto Stellatos ({{married in|1959}}, {{died in|1992}})|Camille Bonora ({{married in|1992}})}} | children = 2 | relatives = Elena Kampouris (granddaughter) }} '''Emmanuel Andrew Kampouris''' (born December 14, 1934) is an American businessman and philanthropist. He spent more than 30 years with American Standard Companies, a conglomerate known for manufacturing plumbing fixtures and air conditioning equipment, including 11 years as chief executive of the company, where he implemented efficiency processes for which ''Fortune'' described him as a "prophet of zero working capital". Born in Egypt to a Greek family, Kampouris was educated in England before joining a family ceramic manufacturing business. After retiring from American Standard in 1999, Kampouris remained active as a corporate board member, philanthropist and film producer.
==Early life and education== According to a biography published by Mark Coppenger on which Kampouris collaborated, he was born in Egypt in 1934 to Eurydice Caralli Kampouris, a concert pianist, and Andrew Kampouris, a Greek cotton businessman. He grew up speaking Greek, English, Italian and Arabic and was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church. His primary and secondary education was at the Mansourah Greek School and Victoria College in Egypt, then at the King's School, Bruton, in England, where he was a fencing champion. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1954 and studied law.<ref name="Coppenger">{{cite book |last1=Coppenger |first1=Mark |title=For Such a Time as This: Kampouris and Kairos |date=2018 |publisher=WestBow Press |isbn=9781973636465 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DkJtDwAAQBAJ |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>
==Business career== According to Coppenger, Kampouris returned to Egypt after his studies and joined his father's business. After the Kampouris family's cotton farms were nationalized by Egyptian ruler Gamal Abdel Nasser, he joined his wife's family business, a stoneware concern that manufactured sewer pipes. He undertook a chemistry course with a focus on ceramic technology at North Staffordshire College of Technology. The company relocated its manufacturing operations from Egypt to Greece, and Kampouris became plant manager there. Through business connections, he recommended that Ideal Standard, then the European brand of American Standard, build a plant in Greece.<ref name="Coppenger" />
In 1966, Kampouris joined American Standard's new Greece operation as general manager of manufacturing.<ref name="NYT-succession">{{cite news |title=American Standard Chooses an Outsider |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/08/business/american-standard-chooses-an-outsider.html |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The New York Times |agency=Bloomberg News |date=October 8, 1999}}</ref> He rose through the ranks, relocating to the United States to become vice president of the international and export group in 1979<ref name="NYT-1979">{{cite news |title=EXECUTIVE CHANGES |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/06/archives/executive-changes.html |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=March 6, 1979}}</ref> and later becoming senior vice president for building supplies.<ref name="Courier-Journal-1987">{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Joe |title=American Standards, Unions Work Together to Give Plant New Life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/109844422/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The Courier-Journal |date=September 21, 1987 |page=B14}}</ref>
===American Standard CEO=== When Kampouris became president and CEO in 1989, American Standard had taken on over $3 billion in debt in a management buyout the year before that he led as a senior executive to fend off a hostile takeover proposal by Black+Decker.<ref name="ChiefExecutive - 1996" /><ref name="NYT-coaching" /> The early 1990s recession reduced construction and cargo shipping and pinched American Standard's business lines. Facing bankruptcy, Kampouris adopted demand flow technology (DFT) to streamline American Standard's manufacturing processes and supply chain and tap into the company's $735 million in working capital. By retooling to manufacture goods on demand, the company would shorten the period between spending on production and payment by customers and spend less on inventory.<ref name="Fortune-1994">{{cite news |last1=Tully |first1=Shawn |title=Prophet of Zero Working Capital |work=Fortune |date=June 13, 1994}}</ref>
Kampouris's goal was to reduce working capital to zero by 1996; by 1994, it absorbed 5 percent of sales compared to an industry average of 15 percent.<ref name="Fortune-1994" /> Some plants were seeing inventory turnover figures as high as 40, compared with an average of four across most companies, resulting in increases in cash flow. General Electric's Jack Welch sent teams to three American Standard plants<ref name="Fortune-1994" /> and personally visited American Standard to learn the methodology.<ref name="Charan">{{cite book |last1=Charan |first1=Ram |last2=Bossidy |first2=Larry |last3=Burck |first3=Charles |title=Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done |date=2009 |publisher=Crown |isbn=9780307591463 |pages=65–66 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=07jVCQAAQBAJ |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>
He also sought to roll out DFT in the company's white-collar office environment, which he acknowledged was more difficult. Among his office efficiency decisions was the use of cubicles for all office staff.<ref name="ChiefExecutive - 1996">{{cite news |title=The Man Who Puts Working Capital To Work |url=https://chiefexecutive.net/the-man-who-puts-working-capital-to-work__trashed/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=Chief Executive |date=October 1, 1996}}</ref> The company initiated a major expansion in China in 1994.<ref name="NYT-China">{{cite news |title=Porcelain to Peking |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/17/magazine/sunday-april-17-1994-porcelain-to-peking.html |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The New York Times Magazine |date=April 7, 1994}}</ref> After the 1992 low-flush toilet mandate, he defended American Standard's products on the market but commented that the regulation was burdensome on the industry.<ref name="WSJ-low-flow">{{cite news |title=Forbidden Flushes |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB948153384914125430 |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 18, 2000}}</ref>
Kampouris led American Standard through an initial public offering in 1995 that raised $270 million and turned its first profit that year since the 1988 LBO. The company's stock price multiplied eight times from 1988 through 1996.<ref name="ChiefExecutive - 1996" /> He pushed the company beyond air conditioning, truck brakes and plumbing fixtures into medical diagnostic equipment<ref name="Courier-News-1997">{{cite news |last1=Turmelle |first1=Luther |title=American Standard seeks to be known for more than toilets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/222488641 |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The Courier-News |date=May 2, 1997 |page=A7}}</ref> In 1997, Kampouris turned down a takeover bid by Tyco International,<ref name="WSJ-Tyco">{{cite news |last1=Lipin |first1=Steven |title=American Standard Stock Hits the Brakes on Earnings |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB874017438278048500 |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=September 12, 1997}}</ref> a move that disappointed shareholders and contributed to downgrades by investment analysts.<ref name="NYT-coaching" /> American Standard offered an employee stock ownership program that saw a quarter of the company's stock owned by its employees by 1999.<ref name="NYT-coaching" />
Having added the title of chairman in 1993, Kampouris retired as chairman and CEO in December 1999, receiving $4 million in bonuses in addition to a $13.8 million lump-sum retirement payment.<ref name="NYT-succession" /><ref name="NJBiz - retirement">{{cite news |last1=Crystal |first1=Graef |title=An American Standard CEO Retires in Style |url=https://njbiz.com/an-american-standard-ceo-retires-in-style/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=NJBiz |agency=Bloomberg News |date=June 27, 2000}}</ref>
===Management style=== At American Standard, Kampouris emphasized flexible roles that would give employees opportunities to take on new work and build their skills.<ref name="NYT-coaching">{{cite news |last1=Deutsch |first1=Claudia H. |title=A New Kind of Whistle-Blower; Company Refines Principles of Coaching and Teamwork |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/07/business/a-new-kind-of-whistle-blower-company-refines-principles-of-coaching-and-teamwork.html |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=May 7, 1999}}</ref> Although his formal title was chairman, president and CEO, Kampouris eschewed his executive title, using the term "corporate leader" on his business card.<ref name="ChiefExecutive - 1996" /> Executives at American Standard were described as "coaches" whose role is to guide employees on their career paths. "It has meant learning to manage our egos, and accepting that we could learn as much from blue-collar workers as from each other," Kampouris told ''The New York Times'' in 1999. Coaches were rewarded with bonuses and promotions based on the performance of the employees they were responsible for coaching.<ref name="NYT-coaching" />
As a convert to evangelicalism, Kampouris cited Nehemiah, who according to the biblical narrative oversaw the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, as a leadership role model.<ref name="Fortune-1994" />
==Other business activities== After leaving American Standard, Kampouris served on several boards. He was one of the first directors of Alticor, the parent company of Amway, not to come from the DeVos or Van Andel families.<ref name="Amway-2001">{{cite news |last1=Naudi |first1=Jack |title=Amway's parent looks outside of the family |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/1123187165/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The Grand Rapids Press |date=October 17, 2001 |page=A12}}</ref> He was also a board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Hudson Institute.<ref name="Hudson-bio">{{cite web |title=Emmanuel A. Kampouris |url=https://www.hudson.org/experts/686-emmanuel-a-kampouris |publisher=Hudson Institute |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref> He was awarded the Democracy Service Medal by the NED in 2007.<ref name="NED">{{cite web |title=2007 Democracy Service Medal Presented to Mort Abramowitz, Emmanuel Kampouris and Vaclav Havel |url=https://www.ned.org/events/2007-democracy-service-medal/ |publisher=National Endowment for Democracy |access-date=October 31, 2025 |date=2007}}</ref>
Kampouris and his second wife Camille co-produced the 2024 Angel Studios drama ''Bonhoeffer'', based on the life of theologican Dietrich Bonhoeffer.<ref name="ScreenDaily">{{cite news |last1=Kay |first1=Jeremy |title=US sellers of faith- and values-based films eye international market |url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/us-sellers-of-faith-and-values-based-films-eye-international-market/5198962.article |access-date=November 3, 2025 |work=ScreenDaily |date=November 7, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Variety-2024">{{cite news |last1=Leydon |first1=Joe |title='Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.' Review: Angel Studios' Biopic of an Anti-Nazi WWII Hero Seems Unsettlingly Timely |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/bonhoeffer-pastor-spy-assassin-review-angel-studios-1236217613/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=Variety |date=November 21, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Deadline">{{cite news |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |title='Bonhoeffer' Trailer: Angel Studios' True-Life WWII Thriller Examines Courage And Sacrifice – CineEurope |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/bonhoeffer-trailer-angel-studios-1235978618/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=Deadline |date=June 20, 2024}}</ref> Inspired by Eric Metaxas's biography of Bonhoeffer, the film took 12 years to develop and produce.<ref name="Beliefnet">{{cite news |last1=Hamby |first1=Dewayne |title=Thrilling "Bonhoeffer" Biopic Aims to Inspire Viewers to Live Out Their Faith |url=https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/latestnews/2024/11/15/thrilling-bonhoeffer-biopic-aims-to-inspire-viewers-to-live-out-their-faith/ |access-date=November 3, 2025 |work=Beliefnet |date=November 15, 2024}}</ref>
==Philanthropy== The Kampourises have been active in a range of philanthropic activities. They were early supporters of Metaxas's "Socrates in the City" events.<ref name="Metaxas">{{cite book |last1=Metaxas |first1=Eric |title=Life, God, and Other Small Topics: Conversations from Socrates in the City |date=2012 |publisher=Penguin |location=New York |isbn=9780452298651 |page=360 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_GDaCwAAQBAJ |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref> They are co-founders of the ''Kairos Journal'', an online publication aimed at pastors, and BibleMesh, an online theological training program.<ref name="Coppenger" /><ref name="CT-2010">{{cite news |last1=Hansen |first1=Collin |title=Why Johnny Can't Read the Bible |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2010/05/why-johnny-cant-read-bible/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=Christianity Today |date=May 2010}}</ref>
==Political activities== Kampouris was head of the finance committee for Dan Quayle's 2000 presidential campaign.<ref name="WSJ-Quayle-campaign">{{cite news |last1=Kuntz |first1=Phil |title=Fund-Raising Race Is Also Part Of the 2000 Presidential Contest |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB921046110362195754 |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=March 11, 1999}}</ref>
==Personal life== Coppenger's biography recounts that Kampouris married Myrto Stellatos on July 4, 1959, at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, Alexandria. They had two sons and five grandchildren, including actress Elena Kampouris. Myrto died from breast cancer in 1992. Kampouris was remarried to Muppet performer and comedienne Camille Bonora.<ref name="Coppenger" /> Bonora retired from performing with the Muppets in 1998.<ref name="ART">{{cite web | last1=Srdoc | first1=Natasha | last2=Samy | first2=Joel Anand | title=Emmanuel and Camille Kampouris: "Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin." | website=America's Roundtable | date=October 14, 2024 | url=https://americasrt.com/f/emmanuel-and-camille-kampouris-bonhoeffer-pastorspyassassin | access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref>
Although he grew up Greek Orthodox, Kampouris became fond of Anglican worship while studying at Oxford. Around the time of Myrto's death, he began attending David Wilkerson's Times Square Church and converted to evangelical Christianity.<ref name="Coppenger" /> He is a member of the Anglican Church in North America and a trustee and guarantor of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON).<ref name="TLC-2025">{{cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Mark |last2=Sandeman |first2=John |title=The Inside Story on GAFCON's Communiqué |url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-anglican-communion/the-inside-story-on-gafcons-communique/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |work=The Living Church |date=October 27, 2025}}</ref> In this role, he is a member of the Global Anglican Council established to oversee GAFCON following its March 2026 meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.<ref name="TLC-2026">{{cite web | last=Michael | first=Mark | title=Here's Who Leads the Global Anglican Communion | website=The Living Church | date=March 27, 2026 | url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-anglican-communion/heres-who-leads-the-global-anglican-communion/ | access-date=April 2, 2026}}</ref> Kampouris was awarded an honorary doctorate from Ajayi Crowther University for his services to GAFCON.<ref name="honorary doctorate">{{cite web |last1=Asaju |first1=Dapo F. |title=CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH: HOMOSEXUALITY, AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE AND CHRISTIAN LIVING: THE STAND OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA |url=https://anglicandioceseofogbaru.com/contending-for-the-faith-homosexuality-authority-of-the-scripture-and-christian-livingthe-stand-of-the-church-of-nigeria/ |publisher=Diocese of Ogbaru |access-date=October 31, 2025 |date=2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kampouris, Emmanuel}} Category:Living people Category:1934 births Category:American chief executives in the manufacturing industry Category:20th-century American people of Greek descent Category:Converts to evangelical Christianity Category:American Anglican Church in North America members Category:20th-century American philanthropists Category:21st-century American philanthropists Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Category:People educated at King's School, Bruton Category:Victoria College, Alexandria alumni