Early Life
William Ingraham Koch was born on May 3, 1940, in Wichita, Kansas. He is the son of Fred C. Koch, the founder of Koch Industries. Bill Koch attended Culver Military Academy and later graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering.
Rise to Success
Koch began his career in the family business, Koch Industries. However, after an unsuccessful attempt to take over the company from his brother Charles in 1980, he was fired. In 1983, William and his brother Fred sold their stock in Koch Industries to their brothers Charles and David for $800 million. William then founded Oxbow Carbon LLC in 1983, which has grown to be a leading global marketer of refinery coproducts. His company, Oxbow, is also involved in mining and marketing energy and commodities such as coal and petroleum coke.
Key Business Strategies
Koch's strategy for Oxbow has been to leverage his experience in the energy sector, creating a global platform for sourcing and marketing petroleum coke and related products. Oxbow's success has been built on a combination of teamwork, technology, and talented employees. The company has also expanded internationally, opening offices in Rotterdam and Singapore.
Philanthropy
William Koch is involved in philanthropy, the arts, education, and the community. He is also known for his collection of art, fine wine, and Western memorabilia. Koch founded an innovative private high school (Oxbridge Academy).