Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit

This company, founded by Thanathorn's father, Pattana Juangroongruangkit, in 1977, later came under the leadership of his mother, Somporn Juangroongruangkit, following Pattana's death in 2002.

Additionally, the Juangroongruangkit family has significant holdings in Matichon Publishing Group, a major Thai media conglomerate.

In the context of Thanathorn's entry into politics, he made significant professional changes to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

He stepped down from his positions at the Matichon board and the Thai Summit Group.

Concurrently, his mother, Somporn, divested all her shares in Matichon.

Another notable member of the Juangroongruangkit family in Thai politics is Thanathorn's uncle, Suriya Juangroongruangkit.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (ธนาธร จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ,, ; ; born 25 November 1978) is a Thai politician who served as Leader of the Future Forward Party from 2018 until the party dissolved in 2020.

He has linked these concerns to broader economic challenges faced by Thailand, notably referencing the 1997 economic crisis.

Thanathorn initially aspired to a career with the United Nations and received an offer to work as a development worker in Algeria.

However, his career path took a significant turn due to family circumstances.

His time at university was marked by significant involvement in student leadership, serving as the President of the Thammasat University Students Union in 1999 and subsequently as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Students Federation of Thailand.

Thanathorn's academic pursuits extended beyond engineering.

He obtained three master's degrees, reflecting his growing interest in broader social and economic issues.

These degrees include a Master's in Political Economy from Chulalongkorn University, a joint Master's in Global Finance from Stern School of Business at New York University and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and a Master's in International Business Law from the University of St. Gallen.

Parallel to his academic journey, Thanathorn was actively engaged in social and economic reform activities in Thailand.

He was involved with charities and NGOs such as Friends of the People and the Assembly of the Poor.

Notably, he advocated for the rights of villagers in Ubon Ratchathani Province affected by the Pak Mun Dam, campaigning for their land and compensation rights.

Thanathorn's involvement in student movements during his academic years was a subject of concern for his family.

In various interviews, it has been revealed that Thanathorn experienced disagreements with his uncle, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, from a young age.

A key point of contention between them centered around the Trans Thai-Malaysia Gas Pipeline Project.

Thanathorn's perspective on this project reflects his broader critique of government practices, which he associates with issues of accountability and what he describes as crony capitalism.

From 2001 to 2017, its revenues increased from 16 billion baht to 80 billion baht.

Thanathorn was instrumental in expanding the company’s global reach, establishing manufacturing facilities in seven countries and employing over 16,000 people worldwide.

From 2002 to 2018, Thanathorn was the vice president of the Thai Summit Group, Thailand's largest auto parts manufacturer.

Suriya has a history of political involvement, having served as Thailand's Minister of Transport from 2002 to 2005.

He is a key figure in the Palang Pracharat Party, a leading pro-junta political party in Thailand and a major component of the current government coalition.

Thanathorn began his education at the Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok.

Following high school, he pursued higher education, earning a joint-honours Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in mechanical engineering from Thammasat University and the University of Nottingham.

In 2002, following the diagnosis of his father, Pattana Juangroongruangkit, with cancer and his subsequent passing, Thanathorn returned to Thailand.

At the age of 23, he assumed the leadership role of the Thai Summit Group, a major enterprise founded by his father.

During his tenure as the head of Thai Summit Group, the company saw substantial growth.

A notable achievement under Thanathorn's leadership was striking a deal in 2005 with the American auto manufacturer Tesla.

This agreement involved supplying 500,000 cars per year, marking a significant milestone for Thai Summit Group with sales totaling 7.9 billion baht and profits of 5.98 billion baht.

This deal led to the establishment of factories in the United States.

From 2008 to 2012, he served as the President of the Federation of Thai Industry's Nakhon Nayok Chapter, holding this position for two consecutive terms.

Further expanding the company's global footprint, in 2009, Thanathorn guided Thai Summit Group in acquiring Ogihara, a leading Japanese mould maker.

Thanathorn's professional involvement extended into various significant roles within Thailand's industrial sector.

In March 2018, Thanathorn co-founded the Future Forward Party and was unanimously elected as the party's leader during its first public meeting in May 2018.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangk was born and raised in Bangkok, within a Thai Chinese family that traces its roots back to Fujian province.

His family is notable in the Thai business landscape, particularly through their involvement with the Thai Summit Group.