Suphajee Suthumpu
AFTER bringing satellite operator Thaicom from nowhere to eighth in the world and increasing its market cap five to six times in the four-plus years she headed the company, new group CEO of Dusit International, Suphajee Suthumpun, is on a mission to put the homegrown hotel group on the world stage.
Suthumpun joins Dusit at a time of tremendous growth. The chain operates 29 properties today but has a pipeline of 40 hotels that will open in the next three to five years across AMEA. The target is to sign another 20 hotels this year, she said.
Hospitality education is also growing great guns with eight projects in six countries.
But Suthumpun’s goal is incalculable and larger than just number of hotels, schools, company size and other such performance indicators. “I could grow Dusit to 100 hotels and have more education projects, but I’m looking for more impact than just that,” she said in an interview.
“My goal is first, for everyone of our 4,000 employees – and this will grow to 12,000 as we open more hotels – to be proud of being a part of Dusit and to believe in our mission. Ultimately, for Dusit to be seen as the homegrown asset of the country which all Thais can be proud of. If a Thai were to visit, say, the Dusit Thani in Dubai, he or she would be filled with pride that Thailand has produced such a brand.”
Her priority is to strengthen the foundation of the company to support “quality” growth. The pillars centre around five key areas, namely, people, process, property & branding, technology and financial capability, she said.
Marking a new chapter at Dusit, Suthumpun is the first CEO who is non-family and only the third CEO since the business was found by Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui in 1949. The founder’s son, former CEO Chanin Donavanik, has stepped down but remains chairman of the executive committee.
Asked why he decided to handover the baton to Suthumpun, Donavanik said with the business growing so rapidly, the company had to be managed and led differently.
“I don’t think I have the energy to do detailed work anymore. I also think technology will be important if the company were to do well and I am not good with that. And when she said yes, I felt comfortable to retire as I have someone who has the passion and reputation to look after Dusit, the company I love as my mother founded it.”
– Read how Suthumpun plans to strengthen Dusit’s foundation in View from the Top, TTG Asia’s June issue
