Early Life
Albert Chao was born in 1949 and grew up in Taiwan. His father, Ting Tsung Chao, moved the family from China to Taiwan in the 1940s. In the mid-1980s, the Chao family moved to the United States.
Rise to Success
In 1986, Albert Chao, along with his father and brother James, founded Westlake Chemical Corporation. He received his B.A. from Brandeis University and an MBA from Columbia University. Albert served as the CEO of Westlake from 2004 until July 2024, then became executive chairman. Under his leadership, Westlake has grown to become one of the largest companies in the United States by revenue. The Chao family's business acumen also led to the founding of Suzhou Huasu Plastics Company in China and Titan Chemicals Corporation in Malaysia.
Key Business Strategies
Albert Chao's career spans over 40 years in the international business and petrochemical industry. His leadership at Westlake has been marked by strategic acquisitions and operational discipline, helping Westlake become a major player in the chemical manufacturing landscape. He is credited with helping launch the company alongside his brother and father.
Philanthropy
The Chao family is actively involved in philanthropy through the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation. The foundation supports cultural, civic, and higher education institutions. Notable contributions include a $15 million pledge to Rice University for the Chao Center for Asian Studies. The family received the Robert C. McNair Civic Leadership Award from the Greater Houston Partnership in 2023, recognizing their contributions to the community.
