Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (, ; born 25 November 1978) is a Thai businessman, politician, and activist who served as the leader of the
Future Forward Party from 2018 to 2020. From 2002 to 2018, he was the vice president of the
Thai Summit Group, Thailand's largest auto parts manufacturer.
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.
Early life and family
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was born and raised in
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
, within a
Thai Chinese
Thai Chinese (also known as Chinese Thais, Sino-Thais) are persons of Chinese people, Chinese descent in Thailand. Thai Chinese are the largest mixed group in the country and the largest overseas Chinese community in the world with a popul ...
family that traces its roots back to
Fujian province. His Chinese surname is
Zhuang(庄) in
Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin ( ; zh, s=, t=, p=Guānhuà, l=Mandarin (bureaucrat), officials' speech) is the largest branch of the Sinitic languages. Mandarin varieties are spoken by 70 percent of all Chinese speakers over a large geographical area that stretch ...
. His family is notable in the Thai business landscape, particularly through their involvement with the Thai Summit Group. This company, founded by Thanathorn's father,
Pattana Juangroongruangkit, in 1977, later came under the leadership of his mother,
Somporn Juangroongruangkit
Somporn Juangroongruangkit (; born 1950/1951) is a Thai businesswoman and the president and CEO of Thai Summit Group, the family-owned and largest car parts manufacturer in Thailand. Her family also owns part of Matichon
''Matichon'' ( 'opinio ...
, 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. 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.
Education
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
Thammasat University (TU; ; , ) is a public university, public research university in Thailand with campuses in the Tha Phra Chan area of Bangkok, Rangsit, Pattaya and Lampang Province. , Thammasat University has over 39,000 students enrolled in ...
and the
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948.
Nottingham's main campus (University Park Campus, Nottingh ...
.
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
Political or comparative economy is a branch of political science and economics studying economic systems (e.g. Marketplace, markets and national economies) and their governance by political systems (e.g. law, institutions, and government). Wi ...
from
Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University (CU; ; , ) is a public university, public Autonomous university, autonomous research university in Bangkok, Thailand. The university was originally founded during King Chulalongkorn's reign as a school for training ro ...
, 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
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a public research university in Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong. Founded in 1991, it was the territory's third institution to be granted university status, and the firs ...
, 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
Crony capitalism, sometimes also called simply cronyism, is a pejorative term used in political discourse to describe a situation in which businesses profit from a close relationship with state power, either through an anti-competitive regul ...
. He has linked these concerns to broader economic challenges faced by Thailand, notably referencing the 1997 economic crisis.[
]
Business career
Thanathorn initially aspired to a career with the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
and received an offer to work as a development worker in Algeria
Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...
. However, his career path took a significant turn due to family circumstances. In 2002, following the diagnosis of his father, Pattana Juangroongruangkit, with cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
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. 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.
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. 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. 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. In addition to this role, Thanathorn was distinguished as the youngest person to be elected as the Secretary-General of the Thai Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, a position he held from 2007 to 2010. His involvement in industry was further underscored by his membership in the Industrial Cluster Development Board of Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency.
In a significant career shift, after spending 17 years as Executive Vice-President of the Thai Summit Group, Thanathorn stepped down from this role in May 2018. This decision followed his election as the leader of the Future Forward Party, marking his transition from business to a full-time career in politics.
Political career
On 15 March 2018, Thanatorn, together with Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a former constitutional law professor at Thammasat University, and other individuals with similar views, initiated the establishment of a new political party, named Future Forward (Thai: อนาคตใหม่), registering it with the Election Commission of Thailand. At the party's inaugural public meeting in May 2018, Thanathorn was chosen as the party leader.
Thanathorn's vision for Future Forward includes restoring civilian government and reducing military influence in Thai politics, enhancing political accountability, promoting equitable wealth distribution, and establishing a social welfare system that respects human dignity. He also advocates for increased decentralization of power.
To maintain its independence and transparency, Future Forward has adopted a funding model that depends solely on contributions from its members and supporters. The party aims to gather 350 million baht from its members and the public to support its campaign in the 2019 general election.
Thanathorn, with his business background, youthful image, and political perspectives, has attracted international media attention, drawing comparisons to leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017. He was Ministry of Economy and Finance (France), Minister of Economics, Industr ...
and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In Thailand, media often labels him as the "billionaire commoner," highlighting his role in challenging the country's social class system. Additionally, he has gained a unique following among young female supporters, who humorously refer to him as "Daddy."
Regarding legal matters, Thanathorn, along with Jaruwan Sarankate and Klaikong Vaidhyakarn, senior members of his party, faced charges under the Computer Crime Act. This stemmed from a complaint by a member of the National Council for Peace and Order
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO; ; ; abbreviated (; )) was the military junta that ruled Thailand from its coup d'état on 22 May 2014 to 16 July 2019. On 20 May 2014, the military declared martial law nationwide in an attempt to ...
(NCPO) regarding their Facebook
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
Live broadcast on 29 June 2018, allegedly disseminating false information or content detrimental to national stability.
The trio was summoned to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) on 24 August 2018, to hear the charges. They requested a postponement to 17 September 2018, due to short notice and prior commitments. Thanathorn had previously attended a session on 31 July 2018, as a witness but chose not to comment on the allegations at that time.
Thanathorn was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2019 elections. Subsequently, the Election Commission
An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
raised concerns about his eligibility, alleging that he owned shares in a media company, V-Luck Media, at the time of his MP candidacy registration. This ownership, if proven, would contravene election laws and could lead to his disqualification. Thanathorn contested these allegations, asserting that he had transferred all his shares before registering as a candidate.
On 23 May 2019, just before the new parliament's opening, the Constitutional Court agreed to review the case brought against Thanathorn by the Election Commission. In a vote of 8-1, the Court decided to suspend Thanathorn's status as an MP until a final verdict was reached. He was allowed to participate in the opening ceremony and take his oath but was then required to leave.
During this period, Thanathorn was proposed as a prime ministerial candidate by a coalition of parties opposed to the military junta. However, he was defeated by the incumbent prime minister and former coup leader, Prayut Chan-o-cha. In November of the same year, the Constitutional Court ruled against Thanathorn, officially disqualifying him from his MP status.
In addition, Thanathorn's declaration of assets to the National Anti-Corruption Commission revealed that he possessed assets totaling 5.6 billion baht
The baht (; , ; currency sign, sign: ฿; ISO 4217, code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). Prior to decimalisation, the baht was divided into eight ''fueang'' (, ), each of eight ''at'' (, ). The ...
, making him the wealthiest member of the Thai parliament at that time.
In October 2019, Thanathorn met with Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong at the Open Future Festival. Wong tweeted a picture of the two together, writing, "Under the hard-line authoritarian suppression, we stand in solidarity." The Chinese embassy in Bangkok issued a statement referring to the incident as irresponsible. Thanathorn issued a statement denying any relationship with Wong and stating that he supports China playing a bigger role both regionally and globally.
Progressive Movement
Thanathorn founded the Progressive Movement with Piyabutr Saengkanokkul after their party dissolved. In January 2021, he was charged with lèse-majesté after criticizing Prayut Chan-o-cha government mismanagement of COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop immunity from a disease. Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weakened, live or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism. In stimulating ...
by relying too much on AstraZeneca vaccine which Siam Bioscience, owned by the King
King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
, supplies the most. On 18 January 2021, the Royal Thai Police
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) (; ) is the national police force of Thailand. The RTP employs between 210,700 and 230,000 officers, roughly 17 percent of all civil servants (excluding the military and the employees of state-owned enterprises). The R ...
charged him for defaming the government through a live stream on Facebook. Later, Puttipong Punnakanta filed the charge through Technology Crime Suppression Division and the court ordered taking the video down.
Later in August 2021, Thanathorn faced two more lèse-majesté charges for the same act.
Personal life
Thanathorn's nickname
A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...
is Ek ().
He is married to Rawiphan Juangroongruangkit, they have four children together. Angered by the 2006 coup, Thanathorn gave his son the nickname, ''Demo'' (Thai: เดโม่), from the Greek root ''demos'' ('people').
In his free time, Thanathorn enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, climbing, marathons, kayaking, cycling, diving and mountaineering. He has participated in various extreme sports competitions, including the Tor Des Géants and the Sahara Marathon. Thanathorn was the first Asian to complete the 560 km self-supported foot race above the Arctic Circle. Asked about his media diet, Thanathorn says he reads foreign newspapers like ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', ''The Economist
''The Economist'' is a British newspaper published weekly in printed magazine format and daily on Electronic publishing, digital platforms. It publishes stories on topics that include economics, business, geopolitics, technology and culture. M ...
'', ''Financial Times
The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...
'', and Thai newspapers like ''Matichon
''Matichon'' ( 'opinion of the people', also known as ''Matichon Daily'' to distinguish it from other related publications) is a major Thai-language national daily newspaper. It was founded by a group of progressive writers in 1978, when the count ...
'' and '' Krungthep Turakij'' (''Bangkok Business''). He is a big fan of esports
Esports (), short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, played individually or as teams. ...
and games such as Minecraft
''Minecraft'' is a 2011 sandbox game developed and published by the Swedish video game developer Mojang Studios. Originally created by Markus Persson, Markus "Notch" Persson using the Java (programming language), Java programming language, the ...
and Arena of Valor, which he cites as one of the tools he uses to connect with his children.
In an interview about his style and grooming, Thanathorn revealed that he doesn't use any facial or hair products, moisturizers, or cosmetics. He also revealed that he wears generic white shirts and pleated khakis as a daily uniform. The only investment he makes into his wardrobe is for his climbing and running clothing for his outdoor hobbies.
References
External links
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Future forward Party
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University of St. Gallen alumni
New York University alumni
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit
1978 births
Living people