Partner
ZW Koo is an investment banker and entrepreneur. Koo brings to BHV a global strategic outlook together with hands-on experience in building global ventures. Koo developed American Higher Education (AHEd), a venture incubation company dedicated to developing new ventures based on delivering higher education programs from MIT, Harvard, and other universities of high quality, through online and off-line means, to universities, corporations, and government agencies throughout the world. AHEd launched two subsidiaries, one in nurse training and another in English language training.
Previously, Koo was co-founder and Managing Partner of Cambridge Capital Partners Limited, a boutique investment firm specializing in M&A and financial advisory services, a JV with The Sakura Bank of Japan, and in partnership with The Blackstone Group, participated in the restructuring process in Korea during the financial crisis by providing restructuring advisory services and sponsorship of buyouts. Cambridge was also engaged in private equity and venture capital as both financial advisor and investor, in particular in technology and e-commerce. Before Cambridge, Koo was a Managing Director of BT Wolfensohn. For 14 years, he worked with James D. Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank and Paul A. Volcker, former Chairman of the Economic Advisory Panel for President Obama. Koo advised Fortune 500 clients and venture companies on a broad range of mission critical strategic and financial matters, including strategic review and planning, mergers and acquisitions, investments, financial and operations restructuring, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Koo’s clients included leading companies in the fields of lodging and gaming, financial services, computer and electronics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and high technology industries, including e-commerce and Internet related ventures.
Koo has worked with start-up venture companies for most of his career in various capacities, both as a principal and advisor. Most recently, he served as a Director and interim CFO of a localized Internet shopping company based in San Jose, CA. He was responsible for the turnaround strategy and restructuring of the company. Koo was also recently engaged to restructure an Internet Portal provider to the higher education market.
Prior to joining the Wolfensohn group, Koo had served in the ROK army and worked at Logica Inc. and Procter & Gamble Company. Koo holds A.B., S.M., and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University. He is a private pilot and an avid cyclist. He is a member of the Harvard Club of New York and the Yale Golf Club.