Jeffrey Koo Sr. | |
|---|---|
辜濂松 | |
 | |
| Born | (1933-09-08)September 8, 1933 |
| Died | December 6, 2012(2012-12-06) (aged 79) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Soochow University (BA) New York University (MBA) |
| Occupation | banker |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Koo Chen-fu,Koo Kwang-ming (uncles) |
| Awards | Eisenhower Fellowship |
Jeffrey Koo Sr. (Chinese:辜濂松;pinyin:Gū Líansōng; 8 September 1933 – 6 December 2012) was a Taiwanese billionairebanker and the third-generation of the Koo Family who served as honorary chairman and governor ofCTBC Financial Holding, and co foundedKoos Group.
The rise of the Koo family dates back to the late nineteenth century inLukang, which was the capital at the time. The first generation Koo ancestors held monopolistic investments in camphor, salt, sugar, and land.[1] Today, the Koo Family has a bloodline of at least six generations.
Koo was born in 1933 inTaichū Prefecture inJapanese Taiwan. He graduated fromSoochow University inTaipei in 1957 with aB.A. in accounting, then completed graduate studies at in the United States, where he moved toNew York City and lived inBrooklyn Heights to attendNew York University. In 1962, he earned hisMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from theNew York University Stern School of Business.
Around the mid 20th century, Koo co-founded with his uncle,Koo Chen-fu, the Koos Group which is a conglomerate/consortium of businesses including cement, insurance, financial services, leasing, hospitality, etc. Chinatrust Financial Holding – one of the largest, esteemed, and privately owned commercial banks in Asia[4]. Jeffrey Koo Sr. is the acclaimed "Father of Credit Cards," introducing the first credit card system into Asia. Koo was also an Eisenhower Fellowship awardee [5] and ambassador at-large representing Taiwan in cross-strait relations with China [6] and attended major international forums such as the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation).
Koo is survived upon his wife, daughter and three sons. The eldest being Jeffrey Koo Jr. and the youngest son being Andre Koo. Andre Koo's eldest son, Andre Koo Jr., is the heir to the Koo Family empire and is actively involved in managing K8 Capital, a hybrid Private Credit and Venture Capital firm.[2]
Koo's youngest son Andre Koo and eldest grandson Andre Koo Jr. also attended NYU Stern as the 3rd legacy alum.[3]
In 2001,The Wall Street Journal reported total net worth of the Koos Group to be US$36 billion.[4][5] Today, the total net worth of the Koo Family is estimated to be over US$250 billion.
Koo founded what is nowChinatrust Commercial Bank in 1966. It was established under the identity of China Securities and Investment Corporation. In 1971, its name was changed to Chinatrust Investment Company Limited. In 1992, it was transformed into Chinatrust Commercial Bank.[6]
The bank has subsidiaries in the Philippines, the United States, Canada, and Indonesia, foreign branch offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Vietnam, and foreign representative offices in London, Bangkok, Hanoi, Beijing, Manila, and Los Angeles.[7]
CTBC Bank was awarded by international professional agencies as Best Bank in Taiwan in Asiamoney and The Asset magazines. In the area of corporate banking, CTBC Bank was recognized by Global Finance and Asiamoney as the Best Foreign Exchange Bank in Taiwan, while Global Finance, The Asset, The Asian Banker, The Corporate Treasurer, and Global Trade Review magazines named CTBC Bank Taiwan's Best Trade Finance Bank. CTBC Bank was awarded Best Retail Bank in Taiwan by The Asian Banker for the ninth time and was named Taiwan's Best Wealth Management Bank in Euromoney for the eleventh time.
Koo was namedAmbassador-at-large, representing Taiwan, mainly inCross-strait relations.
In June 2008,Forbes ranked him as the sixth richest individual in Taiwan, with a net worth ofUS$ 2.8 billion.[8]
Koo is also an alumnus ofEisenhower Fellowships and a member of the Board of Trustees and a member of theAPEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation).[9]
Koo went toNew York City for treatment forParkinson's disease[11] and died at theMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center on 6 December 2012.[12][13]
