Blanco County, Texas – Angela Chao, the CEO of Foremost Group and a prominent figure in the shipping industry, tragically passed away on Sunday following an accident at a private ranch in Blanco County, Texas. The 54-year-old executive was found submerged in water, and despite the efforts of emergency services, she could not be revived.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Chao’s vehicle entered a body of water on the property, leading to her drowning. However, the exact circumstances of the incident remain under investigation, and authorities have not disclosed the precise location of the accident. The Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, while confirming the ongoing investigation, emphasized that the incident appeared to be a tragic accident.
Angela Chao was widely recognized for her leadership in the shipping industry. She was the youngest daughter of Dr. James S.C. Chao, the founder and honorary chairman of Foremost Group, and the sister of Elaine Chao, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Angela had served as the CEO of Foremost Group since 2018 and was deeply involved in various industry and community organizations, including the American Bureau of Shipping Council and The Asian American Foundation.
Chao was also an accomplished author with a strong academic background, holding both undergraduate and MBA degrees from Harvard University. Her dedication to her work and her contributions to the shipping industry were well known, and her passing is a significant loss to her family and the Asian-American community.
Angela Chao is survived by her husband, James Breyer, a prominent venture capitalist and CEO of Breyer Capital. The Foremost Group, in a statement, honored her legacy, describing her as a "remarkable executive and industry leader" who had a profound impact on those around her.
The Chao family, deeply mourning her loss, has highlighted Angela’s contributions to peace and prosperity, values that her name symbolizes in Chinese. The investigation into the circumstances of her death continues as the community remembers her life and achievements.