Another 'trusted' InTouch exec placed on state agency board
Several executives of InTouch Group, formerly known as Shin Corp, have been appointed to sit on state agencies' boards as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reportedly wants the help of trusted hands.
Yesterday Dr Nongluck Phinainitisart, chief commercial officer of InTouch subsidiary Thaicom, was appointed as vice chairman of Thailand Post Co. This was part of the appointment of 11 new board members of Thailand Post, which had operated without a board for many months.
The appointments by the Finance Ministry took effect yesterday. The board members immediately convened to select a chairman, Anake Permwongseni, secretary-general of the Office of the Education Council, and Nongluck as vice chairman.
A telecom industry source said Nongluck had been approached earlier to be Thailand Post’s chairman but Thaicom’s board opposed the idea for fear of criticisms over sending its executive to lead the state agency.
The former chief executive officer of Thaicom, Arak Chonlatanon, is now energy minister. He assumed the ministerial post after his retirement from Thaicom.
The Information and Communications Technology Ministry proposed the names of Thailand Post’s new board directors to be approved by the Finance Ministry late last year.
Previously Arak was reportedly named as Thailand Post’s chairman, but he assumed the energy minister post instead. This prompted a revision of the name list of the Thailand Post board.
