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Leadership restructuring at F&N Group F&N Group, the region's leading food and beverage group, has announced a senior-leadership restructuring plan to further enhance its position within Asean.
As part of the move, F&N Dairies (Thailand) announced the appointment of Karn Chitaravimol as its new managing director, succeeding Somsak Chayapong, who has been promoted to CEO of Fraser & Neave Holdings.
Somsak is the first Thai executive to resume such a senior leadership position in this Malaysian-listed consumer group, overseeing the food and beverage businesses in Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and Indochina, with retrospective effect from July 1.
He has more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience with the blue-chip fast-moving consumer-goods company, Nestle (Thai). Joining the organisation in 2007, Somsak played an important role in pioneering and setting up the operation of F&N Dairies (Thailand).
Within five years under his leadership, the company’s annual sales were Bt10 billion with a portfolio of quality, well-loved products and brands such as Bear Brand, Carnation, F&N Tea Pot, F&N Magnolia and F&N Fruit Tea Fresh.
Karn, meanwhile, has brought along a wealth of knowledge and experience in consumer businesses in the area of sales, marketing and general management for over 20 years.
Prior to joining F&N Dairies (Thailand), he was the senior vice president of Non-Alcohol Business at Thai Beverage.
NO THAI GMO CROP PLAN, DESPITE
EU, JAPAN EASING IMPORT RULES
The Agriculture Ministry has no plan to promote genetically modified crop plantation in Thailand, even though Japan and most countries in the European Union recently allowed the import of some GMO food products and feed meal.
Deputy permanent secretary Niwat Sutemechaikul said yesterday that while there was no plan to promote GMO crops now, the policy could be revised later.
From December 8 this year, 49 GMO products can be exported to the EU, although shipments to Austria, France and Italy are not permitted.
Japan also allows GMO imports, but demands that exporters come up with clear GMO labelling.
NBTC PANEL AGREES TIMETABLE
FOR 1,800MHZ SPECTRUM AUCTION
The telecom committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday approved the timetable for auctioning the 1800MHz spectrum, which is expected to take place in September next year.
However, the panel has to wait for International Telecommunications Union, its adviser on the auction plan, to finalise its study. The ITU will complete the study of the plan next February.
The NBTC is expected to launch the Information Memorandum on the auction next July.
The 1800MHz spectrum concessions of TrueMove and Digital Phone Co, granted by CAT Telecom, expire on September 15 this year.
