Fly on Corporate Wall

  When Suthikiati Chirathiwat announced that his eldest son Thirayuth was succeeding him as CEO of Centara Hotels and Resorts just over a month ago, he told everyone that it was time to sit back and enjoy life as a doting grandfather and leisure traveller.
No obstacle there – his Centara properties have spread across Asia. Yet bad old habits die hard for a man who has been in the industry for decades, and it seems he couldn’t simply walk off into the sunset.
Yes, he has been travelling lately, but the trips have been more business-cum-pleasure than lazy strolls along the beach. Whispers have it that his most recent trip was to Vientiane, where the former chief executive went to “shop around” for affordable hotels.
His close aides say no decision has been made, after Suthikiati was lured to the Laotian capital by several of its hotels expressing an interest in sheltering under the Centara umbrella. But with his staff along for the ride, the trip turned into something more – a hunt for hotels to buy and redevelop.
So if you bump into Suthikiati on holiday, don’t be fooled by the grandpa act. That pen in his top pocket is poised to ink a deal with a local property owner.

DOING HIS DAD PROUD
Another Suthikiati scion, Passakorn “Pok”, is feeling the heat of the spotlight after returning with a degree from the US and joining Post Publishing, where his dad is chairman of the executive committee chairman.
Pok is the son he had with former Miss Universe Apasara Hongsakul, so it’s no surprise that from early on Pok has attracted the limelight.
Speaking to Preaw magazine, the young man had warm words for his father. Apparently Dad used to demand to know why Pok didn’t go to Central Department Store (owned by the Chirathiwat family) with his boyhood friends.
“I knew he was just kidding, because he knew he couldn’t dictate to me. Nowadays I go everywhere – you’ll spot me occasionally at Siam Paragon.”
These days Dad has no need to worry, says Pok. He may be a footloose browser but when it’s time to buy, he hotfoots it to the family mall. “I only buy elsewhere if I can’t find it at Central.”
But in truth, Suthikiati is very proud of his son. Pok studied in the field his dad suggested, and since joining the Post more than a year ago, he has shown his determination to be a good employee and learn all sides of the business.
“I’ve hardly been to any social events since I started working, and sometimes I stay as late as 3am at the printing house. I’ve been on a delivery truck to Hua Lamphong train station … also done a crime report,” he told the magazine.
Seems like Suthikiati may soon be able to leave another business with an heir. But again, will he be able to free himself of those old habits?

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