Leslie Koo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leslie Koo Cheng-yun
|
|
|---|---|
(cropped).jpg) |
|
| Born | 28 November 1954 |
| Died | 23 January 2017 (aged 62) Taipei, Taiwan
|
| Other names | Gu Chengyun |
| Alma mater | Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Businessperson |
| Parent(s) | Koo Chen-fu |
| Relatives | Chester Koo (brother) |
Leslie Koo (born 28 November 1954 – died 23 January 2017) was a very successful businessman from Taiwan. He was the boss, or Chairman, of a big company called Taiwan Cement Corporation. This company makes cement, which is used to build things like roads and buildings. Leslie Koo was also a billionaire, meaning he had a lot of money. He came from a famous and wealthy family in Taiwan, the Koo clan of Lukang. His father, Koo Chen-fu, was also a well-known businessman and diplomat.
Contents
Leslie Koo's Early Life and Education
Leslie Koo was born in Taiwan on 28 November 1954. He went to college in the United States. He studied at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1981, he earned a special degree called a Master of Business Administration. This degree teaches people how to manage businesses.
Leading Taiwan Cement Corporation
In 2001, Leslie's older brother, Chester Koo, passed away. Because of this, Leslie took over running the Taiwan Cement Corporation (TCC) in 2003. At that time, the company was in a lot of trouble. It had a huge amount of debt, about 25 billion New Taiwan Dollars. This was because his brother Chester had made some risky investments that didn't work out.
Many people on the company's board of directors disagreed with him. But Leslie Koo decided to invest in cement businesses in mainland China. This was a very smart move. It helped the company get out of debt and become successful again.
Saving the Business
Under Leslie Koo's leadership, Taiwan Cement Corporation grew a lot. In just thirteen years, the company's income doubled. It became the twelfth largest cement company in the world. It was also the sixth biggest in China. People said that Leslie Koo saved the business.
A Billionaire's Simple Life
Leslie Koo was a very rich man. His wealth was estimated to be about US$1.2 billion. Even with all that money, he lived a simple life. He often flew in economy class on airplanes. He also liked to eat at local night markets, just like many other people.
He didn't want bodyguards, even though he was very wealthy. He thought having bodyguards would make him seem snobby. He believed it would make it look like rich people couldn't be around regular people.
Supporting Plant Conservation
In 2006, Leslie Koo met a scientist named Li Chia-wei. They talked about ideas for a special place to protect plants. Leslie Koo agreed to pay for this important project. It became known as the Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Center (KBCC). Leslie Koo also provided the land for the center in Gaoshu, Pingtung.
Leslie Koo's Passing
On 21 January 2017, Leslie Koo was at a wedding party. It was held at the Regent Taipei Hotel. Sadly, he fell down a flight of stairs. He was taken to Mackay Memorial Hospital. Later, he was moved to Cheng Hsin General Hospital.
He passed away on 23 January 2017. Doctors said he died from a cerebral haemorrhage, which is bleeding in the brain. After his death, Taiwan Cement chose his brother-in-law, Nelson Chang An-ping, to take over as the new Chairman.
