The ‘Bangkok Post’ continues its series of ‘Bangkok Post CEO of the Year 2024’ accolades, spotlighting executives who have made significant waves in their respective industries. Today, we honor three visionary leaders whose exceptional contributions have reshaped the business landscapes of Thailand and beyond. This cohort includes Disathat Panyarachun of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), a champion of sustainable business leadership; Woraphot Thavornwan of Lenovo Thailand and Rest of Indochina, a beacon of transformational tech leadership; and Natira Boonsri of Central Department Store Group, who exemplifies retail transformation excellence.
Natira Boonsri: Redefining Retail Luxury
At the heart of Thailand’s retail revolution is Natira Boonsri, CEO of the Central Department Store Group (CDG), a key player under Central Retail. With an impressive nearly two-decade tenure in retail, Natira has become synonymous with innovation and transformative projects that demand attention. One of her crowning achievements is the radical overhaul of Central Chidlom, an iconic shopping landmark since 1973, now soaring as “The Store of Bangkok”. Her visionary prowess transforms retail into a vibrant symphony of luxury and consumer satisfaction.
Coming from a strong academic background with a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Natira launched her career as a consultant at the prestigious Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Her journey with Central Retail began in 2005, with Natira swiftly rising through the ranks to guide some of Bangkok’s biggest retail makeovers. Today, she leads with the poise and innovation expected from the Chirathivat family’s lineage, envisioning a future where shopping is a holistic, immersive experience blending leisure and luxury.
One transformative project, CENTRAL@centralwOrld, exemplifies Natira’s approach to seamlessly marrying shopping, dining, and social experiences. This reimagined 50,000-square-meter space wouldn’t just be a shopping center but an experiential hub welcoming over 3,000 brands. It’s this commitment to enhancing the overall customer journey that propels Central Department Stores to the forefront of the retail industry.
Natira understands that behind every grand façade is a strategic team effort. Close collaboration with marketing, communications, and brand strategists is key to offering top-notch products and services. Her leadership epitomizes balancing profitability with corporate social responsibility and shared value initiatives, anchoring Central as a beacon of retail transformation.
Disathat Panyarachun: Diversifying for the Future
From oil and retail to healthcare and beauty, Disathat Panyarachun, CEO of PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), is embracing change through diversification. Navigating the tumultuous waters of technological disruption, Disathat advocates for proactive self-disruption as a pathway to sustainable growth. Under his leadership, OR ventures beyond fuel with strategic moves into electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures, setting a new benchmark for diversification.
Reacting swiftly to the spike in EVs, OR has positioned itself as one of the earliest providers of EV chargers at their stations. This bold leap aligns with global trends and preempts the anticipated future shifts in automotive fuel demands. Alongside these efforts, OR expands into healthcare and beauty products, tapping into Southeast Asia’s dynamic second-largest market in this sector.
Partnerships, such as those with Sugi Holdings of Japan, underscore OR’s strategic shift. By year’s end, the ‘found & found’ stores will hopefully become havens for health-conscious consumers, amplifying OR’s foray into a trillion-baht market. Disathat’s foresight ensures OR remains a dominant force, paving roads not merely for vehicles but for a future steeped in innovative service offerings.
Woraphot Thavornwan: The Tech Visionary
In a world teetering towards digitalization, Woraphot Thavornwan, General Manager of Lenovo Thailand and Rest of Indochina, leads a transformative era for technology in Southeast Asia. Known for reshaping Lenovo from a hardware-centric company to an AI-driven solutions powerhouse, Woraphot steers the ship towards intelligent transformation in Thailand’s tech industry.
Since joining Lenovo, Woraphot has spearheaded the brand into becoming a market leader, not just in Thailand but across the Indochina region. His work to integrate solutions through three diversely focused business groups showcases his strategic foresight — spanning intelligent devices, infrastructure solutions, and a comprehensive services group.
Woraphot emphasizes customer-centric solutions, implementing a strategy dubbed ‘One Lenovo’. This approach simplifies client interactions allowing for comprehensive, bespoke solutions and maximizing efficiency. His dedication to innovation is reflected in Lenovo’s robust investment in research and development, paving the path for the next generation of tech evolution.
Lenovo’s remarkable engagement in workforce training ensures sustainability and adaptability, underpinning its success across Asia-Pacific. Recognized as a “Great Place to Work in 2024,” Lenovo thrives on a culture of understanding and collaboration under Woraphot’s leadership, ready to tackle the intricacies of local markets while maintaining global standards.
These CEOs are driving innovation, but aren’t their plans just appealing to the affluent? Not everyone can afford luxury retail or EVs.
True, but their developments can spur economic growth that benefits everyone eventually.
Economic trickle down is not guaranteed. Need more inclusive strategies.
Exactly! Real innovation should lift all boats, not just yachts.
Inclusivity in luxury is crucial and something I’m working towards in the retail sector.
Disathat’s investments in EVs are bold, but are they actually feasible in the long run?
Feasible if infrastructure keeps pace. Current EV landscape lacks charging stations.
Agreed. More planning needed to avoid stranded investments.
Why the pessimism? Innovation always finds a way.
Woraphot turning Lenovo towards AI is a great move. AI is the future, isn’t it?
AI is the future, but who’s controlling it? Privacy concerns need more attention.
Privacy can be handled with good policies. Lack of AI development is a bigger risk.
AI in consumer solutions can teach us a lot about efficiency.
Exactly, AI should aim at enhancing, not replacing human efforts.
Do these CEOs really deserve the accolades? Maybe they’re just really good at PR.
The key is whether their leadership translates to tangible societal benefits, not just headlines.
Societal benefits? Too broad and subjective. We need measurable impacts.
Agreed. Metrics could include job creation or sustainability advancements.
Exactly! Let’s see that data to back their claims.
Transformative leadership in tech is crucial for Southeast Asia. Lenovo is a good model.
Central’s focus on luxury feels out of touch in a world struggling with basic needs. Thoughts?
Luxury drives innovation in all retail sectors. Plus, it creates jobs.
Our commitment is to balance luxury with accessible offerings.
Why aren’t we talking more about their team’s efforts? CEO’s accolades reflect collective work.
OR’s move to healthcare is interesting. Does this pivot indicate oil’s decline in Thailand?
More of a future-proof strategy. Diversifying is essential in today’s volatile markets.
Let’s hope diversification pays off without straying too far from their core expertise.
Spotlighting such leaders helps inspire potential entrepreneurs. Kudos to Bangkok Post for this series!
Inspiration is good, but remember that transparency in performance is even more crucial.
As much as innovation is crucial, we must question its sustainability. Are these CEOs building for longevity or just the next quarterly report?
Sometimes quarterly reports drive long-term strategies. It’s not always short-sighted.
Props to these leaders for challenging the status quo! I hope they include more women in leadership roles as well.