Albert Chao has been the Chief Executive Officer of Westlake Corporation since 2004, bringing over 40 years of experience in the chemical industry. He played a key role in founding Westlake in 1985 alongside his family, showing a strong commitment...

Albert Chao has been the Chief Executive Officer of Westlake Corporation since 2004, bringing over 40 years of experience in the chemical industry. He played a key role in founding Westlake in 1985 alongside his family, showing a strong commitment to the company’s growth and success. Under his leadership, Westlake Chemical has seen significant financial performance, evidenced by substantial bonuses tied to record achievements, like the $4.1 million bonus he received in 2022 as part of an incentive plan based on hitting performance goals. Notably, Albert has always maintained a focus on cash compensation rather than stock options, favoring direct payments linked to performance metrics such as Total Shareholder Return (TSR) and Return on Capital. Interestingly, his family is deeply connected to the business; his brother James Chao serves as Chairman, and several relatives are also involved in management. This familial foundation provides a unique stability to the company's direction. Additionally, Albert's personal wealth has seen substantial fluctuations due to his company holdings, notably fluctuating around $12 billion at its peak in early 2024. This indicates a strong alignment of interests between him and the shareholders. He remains focused on steering Westlake towards future growth while navigating the complexities of the chemical market.