Early Life and Education
Andre Koo was born in Taiwan in 1967. He comes from the influential Koo family, known for its significant contributions to Taiwan's banking and finance industries. His father, Jeffrey Koo Sr., was a key figure in Taiwan's financial landscape and is often referred to as the "Father of the Credit Card" in Taiwan. Andre Koo earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the New York University Stern School of Business in 1994. He is part of three generations of NYU alumni, including his father and his sons, Andre Koo Jr. and Matthew Koo.
Rise to Success
Koo's career includes leading Chailease Holding, an equipment-leasing company founded by his father. He took the helm of Chailease Holdings in 1997. Under his leadership, Chailease expanded aggressively into Southeast Asia, with Chailease becoming one of the fastest-growing leasing companies in Asia. Chailease has operations in Taiwan, the United States, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines. His secret to growth for the company is identifying businesses too small or too specialized for banks to lend to. He has transformed Chailease into a major player in the leasing and financial services sectors.
Key Business Strategies
Andre Koo's success is attributed to identifying niche markets and building a strong track record. Chailease built a collection of data on every industry it financed, which helped improve internal credit risk models. His company has diversified its services, offering equipment leasing, asset management, and financial solutions to clients in various industries. Chailease also focused on innovation and technological advancement, ensuring that it remained at the forefront of the leasing industry.
Philanthropy
Koo is deeply involved in education and philanthropy, particularly with NYU Stern. He has served as Chair of the NYU Stern Executive Board and is a member of the NYU Board of Trustees. In 2023, he received the NYU Albert Gallatin Medal, the university's highest honor for contributions to society. His support for NYU Stern led to the creation of the "Andre J.L. Koo Lobby" and the “Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA Program.”
