Angela Chao
March 4, 1973 – February 11, 2024
About Angela Chao
Angela Chao is Chair and C.E.O. of Foremost Group, an international shipping and transportation company located in New York.
Angela Chao completed her undergraduate studies in economics at Harvard College, obtaining her degree in only three years. Upon graduation, she entered the field of investment banking, joining the mergers and acquisitions team of Smith Barney, now a part of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Eager to be involved in international trade and shipping, Angela continued her education, graduating from Harvard Business School with an M.B.A. and then rejoined Foremost Group.
As Chair and CEO of Foremost Group, she also serves as President of The Foremost Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by her father Dr. James S.C. Chao, Honorary Chairman of Foremost Group.
Angela Chao has often spoken in the US, Europe and Asia on topics of international economics, corporate leadership, philanthropy and US-China Trade. She is also a frequent speaker on the subject of technology in the classroom and the importance of advancing educational achievement throughout the world to ensure a strong economic and social future for generations to come.
Angela Chao has published several works on the topics of economics and is a contributor to many print and online publications addressing the issues of international trade and shipping, education, technology and philanthropy.
Angela’s philanthropic endeavors are a natural outgrowth of her upbringing. Her parents instilled in their children a strong work ethic and sense of obligation to give back to the community.
Her parents stressed the importance of education as the necessary foundation for achieving success in the world. It is only natural then that educational achievement and increasing access to high-quality education to qualified young people throughout the world would drive her many philanthropic endeavors, from serving as Co-Chair of The Asian-American Foundation’s Advisory Council (TAAF), to her other board memberships, including the Foremost Foundation, Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s International Maritime Business Department Advisory Board, Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors, The Metropolitan Opera, The Chairman’s Council of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Shanghai Mulan Education Foundation, the American Bureau of Shipping Council, Honorary Chairperson of the Chiao-Tung University Alumni Association in America, The Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Foundation, The Founding Board Council of the Museum of Contemporary Art- Los Angeles, The Council on Foreign Relations and The Young Leaders Forum of the National Committee on US-China Relations.She also previously served on board of Museum of Modern Art PS1, Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy Board of Advisors, the American Ballet Theatre’s Global Council, Bank of China, the Lincoln Center Global’s China Advisory Council, The New York City Economic Development Corporation, The Hospital for Special Surgery’s International Advisory Board, The China State Shipbuilding Corporation, The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and The Executive Committee of the Baltic International Maritime Council (BIMCO).
In her capacity as Board Member of the Foremost Foundation, Angela Chao helps to guide the foundation’s giving to various educational institutions, opening the door to many students who are without the economic means to engage in high-level learning.
Born in the United States, Angela Chao is the youngest of six daughters whose parents are Americans of Chinese descent. She also speaks Mandarin Chinese, lives in Austin, Texas and is a fan of the opera and arts.