Tos Chirathivat, executive chairman and chief executive officer, said Central Group continued to grow at a rapid pace, with sales this year expected to increase by more than 20 per cent.

In the coming years, the group sees big investment opportunities in neighbourhood countries, especially in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar – the CLMV group – as well as more widely in the Asean Economic Community, he said.

Moreover, with the Internet and online technology, retail market boundaries are global, the CEO said, adding that Central Group planned to step up and ride this digital trend with e-commerce, omni-channel and market-place strategies to provide a better and seamless customer experience.

To support these exciting future growth plans, the group has strengthened its top management team by adding outstanding professionals at group level in various key positions, he added.

It has announced the appointment of Yol Phokasub as president of Central Group, effective October 1 and reporting to Tos.

Prior to joining Central Group, Yol was president of Siam Commercial Bank, and his strength lies in his ability to integrate consumer-product market knowledge from his leadership experience in a former role at Unilever Thailand to lead the bank to become No 1 in the retail banking field, the chief executive said.

Key posts

In addition, Central Group has recently filled many other key top management positions.

Nicolo Galante, former managing partner of McKinsey & Company, was appointed to serve as chief operating officer at Central Group.

Chanitr Charnchainarong, former executive vice president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand and ex-president of the Market for Alternative Investment, has been made senior executive vice president of corporate development.

Meanwhile, Stewart Stemple, previously global director of talent and development for The Coca-Cola Company, together with Wimolmart Kuekomoldej, formerly the chief financial officer for Central Hardlines Group and a prior head of HR for Central Retail Corp, have been appointed co-heads of Central Group Corporate Human Resources. Prasarn Trairatvorakul, the former governor of the Bank of Thailand, joined as a senior adviser to Central Group in July this year.

“We are proud of the group’s steady growth through the past seven decades. It is the company’s top priority to develop a strong and right team as the fundamental backbone of our success. Today, we are very pleased to further strengthen our team with top-notch executives with broad background and extensive proven experience.

“It is the next important step for Central Group to move forward as a truly world-class organisation for the future decades of growth in the age of digital and business expansion, both in Thailand and internationally,” Tos explained.