15 recipients win 16 honours at The Leadership Awards 2026

Fourteen business leaders and Central Group received 16 honours at The Leadership Awards 2026 on 11 November 2026, recognising contributions to Thailand’s economy, society and innovation.

The awards, now in their third year, are jointly organised by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade of Thailand, Ramkhamhaeng University and Thansettakij. Winners were announced at “GO THAILAND 2027: NEW GROWTH ENGINES”, with artificial intelligence (AI), workforce development and sustainability featuring prominently.

People development and digital transformation

Kantima Lerlertyuttitham, deputy chief executive officer and chief corporate officer of Advanced Info Service (AIS), was the only double winner, receiving the Human Capital Development Award and People’s Award. She secured the highest public vote in polling from 10–30 October 2026.

AIS’s approach combines “MASTERING AI BEYOND BORDERS” with its “FIT FUN FAIR” culture. AIS ACADEMY for THAIs and its “thinking-ahead mission” with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security extend skills development to vulnerable groups, people with disabilities and older people.

Rak Vorrakitpokatorn, chief executive officer of Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM), received the Digital Transformation Award for repositioning the company around debt rehabilitation. BAM’s 3P strategy covers People, Partnerships and Platforms/Process, with investment in AI to manage debtor information, analyse data, monitor repayments and tailor restructuring to individual repayment capacity.

David Li, chief executive officer of Huawei Technologies (Thailand), won the Innovation Leadership Award. Huawei’s three cloud availability zones support domestic data storage and processing, the government’s Cloud First policy and preparations for wider AI adoption. Its work also promotes 5G and AI in manufacturing and energy.

Namchoke Somapa, founder of Somapa Information Technology, received the Global Expansion Award for taking 30 years of border-management and immigration expertise into international partnerships. The company is developing AI Risk Scoring to help officials assess risks and screen travellers entering and leaving countries.

Business reinvention and resilience

Chadatip Chutrakul, chief executive officer of Siam Piwat Group, won the Business Reinvention Award for reshaping retail and property development around changing consumer needs. Projects cited included Siam Paragon’s role in attracting international visitors, ICONSIAM’s award-winning combination of Thai identity and innovation, and the redevelopment of Siam Center, with its “Ideopolis” concept, and Siam Discovery.

“Successful projects are not created by an organisation’s capabilities alone, but by bringing together people and partners from different sectors,” Chadatip said.

Thiraphong Chansiri, president and chief executive officer of Thai Union Group, received the Resilience & Crisis Management Award. Thai Union operates in more than 26 countries and sells products in more than 120. Thiraphong argued that businesses should turn pressure into opportunities for growth.

“Successful organisations are not those that have never faced problems, but those that can learn, adapt and make decisions quickly when confronted with change,” Thiraphong said.

Thammasak Sethaudom, president and chief executive officer of Siam Cement Group (SCG), won the Industry Innovation Award. Amid an uneven global recovery and high energy costs, he argued that AI technology companies were supporting the global and US economies while other sectors faced the weaker side of a K-shaped recovery. SCG’s growth priorities include AI and robotics, clean energy expansion across ASEAN and lower-carbon businesses.

Financial access and healthier lives

Payong Srivanich, president of Krungthai Bank, received the Financial Innovation Award for its digital banking development. Paotang and Krungthai NEXT improve access to financial services and distribute government assistance, while AI, big data and analytics support product development and financial inclusion under sound governance.

Sittiwit Thangtharnarkeat, executive chairman of Easy Money Group, won the Financial Inclusion Award for repositioning pawnshops as accessible sources of short-term liquidity. The model allows small businesses and self-employed people without income documents or credit histories to raise funds against assets they own.

Sara Lamsam, chief executive officer of Muang Thai Life Assurance, received the Wellness & Longevity Innovation Award. The 75-year-old insurer’s “Go Healthier with MTL” strategy broadens its role from risk protection to a life and health partner, covering disease prevention through to elderly care. Fit Rewards on MTL Click converts exercise into points redeemable for insurance premium discounts.

Sustainability, farming and corporate ethics

Pornsuree Konanta, vice president of corporate affairs at Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, received the ESG Leadership Award for more than 20 years connecting the energy business with government and communities. Her award profile cited environmental, social and governance initiatives, including a 2050 net-zero ambition for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, more than 36 community projects annually in 10 provinces, and transparency and ethics under The Chevron Way.

Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, chief executive officer of Thai Beverage, won the Corporate Social Value Award for creating and sharing the benefits of growth across public health, education, sport, arts and culture, community development and the environment. As initiator of “Duay Jongrak Lae Pakdee” (“With Loyalty and Devotion”), Thapana aims to establish 928 district-level social enterprises nationwide in 2026–2027.

Sinon Vongkusolkit, chief executive officer of Banpu, received the Energy Innovation Award for its “Energy Symphonics” strategy. Milestones included BKV Corporation’s New York Stock Exchange listing and completion of Banpu’s merger with Banpu Power in 2026.

Banpu targets a reduction of 20% or more in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050. The company was also selected for the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices for a 12th consecutive year in 2026.

Buntoeng Vongkusolkit, chairman of Mitr Phol Group, won the Agritech Innovation Award for leading the world’s second-largest sugar producer under its “Grow Together” approach. Mitr Phol Modern Farm promotes technology and agricultural machinery among sugarcane farmers, encourages harvesting without burning and purchases cane leaves for biomass electricity generation.

Central Group, the sole organisational recipient, received the Corporate Ethics Excellence Award. Its recognition covered more than 79 years of business development founded on ethics and transparency, including a corporate code of conduct, anti-corruption policies and whistleblower protection. Its four sustainability pillars are People, Prosperity, Planet, and Peace & Partnerships.