Allen Y. Chao (born 1944) is a Taiwanese-American businessman who founded Watson Pharmaceuticals and was chief executive officer from 1984 to 2008, and chairman.

[1] He subsequently received a Ph.D. degree in Industrial and Physical Pharmacy from Purdue University in 1973.

Since their first gift to the university in 1995, Chao and his family have given nearly $30 million to the campus.

[3] In 2005, Chao contributed to the establishment of The Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy, located in the Purdue Research Park in Indiana, to provide leadership in pharmaceutical education, development and manufacturing.

He is chairman and managing partner of Newport Healthcare Advisors LLC.