Born in 1967, Andre Koo belongs to Taiwan's highly influential Koo Family, a four-generation industrial dynasty that first amassed a fortune in the 19th century through commodities like camphor, salt, and land. His father, the late financier Jeffrey Koo Sr., was famously dubbed the 'Father of the Credit Card' in Taiwan, setting a high bar for financial innovation.

Despite this aristocratic pedigree, Koo’s formative years were surprisingly disciplined. At age 15, he chose to enroll in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program at the New York Military Academy near West Point. Koo later described this difficult experience—enduring bullying and harsh conditions—as the pivotal influence that molded his character and management style, teaching him mission orientation and the value of fierce team cooperation. Following his military schooling, he pursued a world-class business education, earning both a B.S. and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business, linking his family's legacy to one of America's premier finance institutions, a tradition he continued with his own sons.

Andre Koo joined the family's equipment-leasing outfit, Chailease Holding, in the 1990s. At the time, the company was already a strong player in Taiwan, holding a 40% market share. Koo's career was defined by his relentless drive to professionalize and expand the business beyond its domestic confines, applying the 'mission orientation' learned during his military training.

Under his leadership, Chailease became one of the fastest-growing financial leasing companies in Asia. Koo aggressively restructured the company, which led to a phenomenal increase in profits. His key strategic move was the large-scale expansion into mainland China and Southeast Asia, focusing on providing essential financing to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—a sector often overlooked by traditional banks. More recently, Koo pivoted Chailease toward a future-focused strategy, investing heavily in energy generation and energy storage, including becoming the largest owner of solar power plants in Taiwan. This journey transformed Chailease from a niche leasing firm into a diversified financial and clean energy conglomerate with over 70 companies and 10,000 employees.

Andre Koo’s philanthropy is deeply linked to his personal transformation and educational roots, focusing heavily on leadership development and business education in the US and Asia. He views his giving as a way to cultivate future generations of leaders with the same discipline and strategic mindset he acquired.

He is a major patron of his alma mater, the NYU Stern School of Business. The Andre Koo Lobby at the school is named in his honor, recognizing his generous contributions. Since 2018, he has sponsored the school’s innovative one-year master's program, the Andre Koo Tech MBA, directly investing in education at the intersection of technology and finance. Furthermore, his company’s massive investment in solar energy and commitment to zero carbon emissions is a form of structural, high-impact environmental philanthropy, aligning his business strategy with sustainability goals.

Andre Koo's style is a blend of Taiwanese corporate chic and New York financial polish. His wardrobe is defined by impeccably tailored, high-end suits, with a preference for classic, powerful silhouettes. His accessories are likely discreet, high-value watches and limited-edition items that signal membership in the global financial elite, but his overall presentation is one of disciplined authority.

His residences are private, luxurious havens in Taipei and likely abroad, reflecting his family's multi-generational wealth. His luxury is often expressed through unique personal ventures, such as his high-end, family-recipe restaurant, C.E.O. Beef Noodle, showcasing a passion for quality and heritage. His private travel serves the purpose of managing an empire that spans across Asia, underscoring a life of active, executive leadership rather than passive indulgence.