According to media reports, Angela Chao, chairman and CEO of Foremost Group, passed away in a car accident in the early morning of February 12 at the age of 50.
Anji Zhao (1973-2024), born in the United States and originally from Jiading, Shanghai, is the youngest of the six daughters of Chinese shipping king Zhao Xicheng, and the sister of the famous Chinese-American former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.
According to reports, Zhao Anji started working at Foremost Group in the United States in 1996. Since 2018, he has served as Chairman and CEO of Foremost Group of America. In addition, from 2017 to 2022, Anji Zhao served as an independent director of Bank of China.
According to US media reports cited by the Financial Associated Press, Angie Zhao was killed in a car accident on February 10, 2024, when she was attending a business meeting in Austin, Texas. Specifically, according to police reports, her car was hit by a speeding truck that ran a red light at an intersection, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was subsequently arrested and charged with drunken driving and manslaughter.
Foremost Group issued an obituary stating, "Anji Zhao was a formidable executive and shipping industry leader, as well as a proud and loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife and mother."
Foremost Group was founded in 1964 Based in New York, USA, it is the world's largest bulk shipping company. Its main businesses include international shipping, finance and international trade. The founder of the group, Captain James Chao, is the famous Chinese American and the father of former U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. He is known as the "Chinese Shipping King" in the United States.
Zhao Xicheng announced his daughter's death "with a heavy heart and deep sadness" in a separate family statement. He said, "We are very sad. Losing her at such a young age is something we never imagined." Zhao Xicheng said that Zhao Anji is the youngest of his six daughters and she has been interested in shipping since she was a child. , he recalled that in the days when he was "taking his daughter to work", Anji Zhao was an outstanding companion full of curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
Public reports show that Anji Zhao completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University in just three years, and then obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. After graduating from college, Anji Zhao first worked in the merger and procurement department of Smith Barney, which was originally part of Citigroup. In 1996, Anji Zhao returned to Foremost Group and developed from financial work to comprehensive management. In 2018, he succeeded his father as the chairman and CEO of Foremost Group of the United States.
According to the China News Network citing the American "Overseas Chinese News" report, since graduating from Harvard, Anji Zhao has been a pioneer for female senior executives, constantly inspiring others to bravely pursue their dreams.
At the same time, the Zhao family obituary mentioned that although Zhao Anji was born in the United States, she never forgot her roots and helped create a bridge of communication between the East and the West throughout her life. She also serves as honorary president of the Jiao Tong University Alumni Association of the Americas, co-chair of the advisory board of the Asian American Foundation, and a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Young Leaders Forum. The Zhao family said that Anji Zhao's sudden departure not only left a missing piece in the family's heart, but was also a major loss to the Asian community.
Xiaoxiang Morning News Comprehensive
