Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group has reinforced its expansion plan, with a number of strategic hires and promotions which focus on the areas needed to achieve the group’s core business objectives, including its vision to be the best medium-sized hospitality management company in Southeast Asia. ONYX currently operates 44 properties, including 10 properties in development.
In 2021, Mr. Charanachitta, owner of ONYX, took over the role of CEO in order to steer the company through one of the biggest challenges faced since its inception. As owner and majority shareholder of the group, Mr. Charanchitta always took an active role in the day-to-day operations of the company, but in the height of the pandemic he recognised the need to play a more active role. His experience stems from leading the family business, one of Thailand’s largest companies, Italthai Group, as its Group Chief Executive Officer.
Upon joining ONYX corporate office, Mr. Charanachitta commissioned a full audit of each brand, to ensure relevance for today’s investors and guests. One of the biggest challenges and areas of focus since joining as CEO, has been the corporate organisation, and the realignment of which, has been the cornerstone of the group’s post-covid recovery programme.
Commenting, Mr. Charanachitta said: “The pandemic forced us to evaluate our structure. Adjustments were needed to support our continued development and evolving consumer needs. The result of which is a new structure which I believe puts us in a more agile position to grow, with reinforced resources in the areas that are essential for our development plan, like marketing, sales, operations and finance. For other specialist areas such as regional sales and PR, we are working with in-market representatives which allows us more flexibility as we grow.”
Mr. Wuthivet Vetchabutsakorn – Group Head of Finance
Wuthivet joined ONYX since beginning of 2021 with more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance. His lengthy resume includes stints with globally recognised leaders in nutrition (Mead Johnson) and pharmaceuticals (P&G) as well as hospitality, where he has held senior roles with Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott. Wuthivet held prior role with Asset World Corporation Public Company Limited (AWC) where he served as Chief Financial Officer for hotel business unit and oversaw the hospitality portfolios and asset management and was part of successful IPO project team. Wuthivet has overall group financial leadership of Corporate Accounting, FP&A, Procurement, IT, Tax, Corporate Funding, Internal Audit, Investment, Strategy and Shareholder Relations. He is also responsible directly and indirectly for team members based in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and overseas.
Mrs. Chutima Fuangkham Kennedy – Promotion – VP, Marketing
With 13 years working for ONYX, Chutima is an example of a talent that has been recognised and subsequently, invested in and cultivated. She joined as E-Marketing manager in 2010 and has worked her way through the ranks and is now overseeing the overall Marketing function for the group. Her experience and expertise fall within the digital marketing arena, where she was responsible for building the group’s Digital Marketing team and successfully deliver double-digit ROI throughout her career.
Ms. Hazel Chua – Promotion – Senior Director Operations Support
Hazel has been with ONYX for six years and prior to this role, she was responsible for the group’s commercial operations, in particular driving the success of new openings. The new role of Operations Support has been created to drive Operational Excellence across ONYX’s properties. Hazel has over 20 years’ experience in sales and hotel operations, and prior to joining ONYX, held roles with Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, Pullman, Crowne Plaza and Sofitel.
Ms. Hathairat Naenkwaen- Promotion – Senior Director, Sales & Distribution
Hathairat joined ONYX in 2017 as OTA Partnership Director and in 2020, she was awarded the IDeaS 2020 Cornell Revenue Management Scholarship for Advanced Hospitality Revenue Management. Her transition to Sales and Distribution is in recognition of her broad experience in OTA and Bedbank, which in her new role she will lead, whilst driving the strategic revenue performance across distribution as well as sales and key accounts including leisure, MICE and corporate markets. Prior to joining ONYX corporate office, Hathairat held a number of revenue, e-commerce and sales roles for Amari, Radisson and Anantara.
Ms. Siriyupa Prakobthong – New Appointment – Director, Sales – Leisure
Siriyupa worked with The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts for almost 10 years as Director of Sales and held the role of Director of Sales and Marketing for Asiankeys Co. for 8 years prior to joining ONYX. Boosting the Leisure Sales function at ONYX is in recognition of the importance of traditional sales channels and of building relationships with travel agents and tour operators around the globe. Post-pandemic, travellers are returning to book via these channels as they seek out travel experts to endorse and provide peace of mind for their travel planning.
Ms. Nattaporn Ratanasingha – New Appointment – Director, Business Development & Strategy
Nattaporn has returned to ONYX following a one-year absence. Most recently she was working with CBRE, leading essential functions in hotel operator selections, feasibility studies, asset management and valuation for CBRE hotels in Thailand. She first joined the ONYX development team as Development Manager back in 2015 and continued to grow until reaching her incumbent position, as a Director of Development which she held until September 2021. With her remarkable contributions in the past and the part she has played in the group’s strategic expansion, her return is a welcomed one.
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