SingTel exec set to boost AIS marketing
Southeast Asia's largest telecom operator, Singapore Telecom, is sending one of its senior executives to boost the marketing operation of its strategic partner Advanced Info Service (AIS), in line with AIS's plan to strengthen its capabilities ahead of the next round of competition in the sector.
AIS chief executive Somprasong Boonyachai yesterday announced the appointment of Hui Weng Cheong, currently Singapore Telecom's (SingTel) vice president for consumer products, as AIS deputy president, putting him in charge of the company's marketing operation from December 1. Hui was previously managing director of the now-defunct Thai paging company Phonelink. A source within Shin Corp Plc, the parent company of AIS, said SingTel management had told AIS it wanted Hui to oversee the operations with a focus on marketing. AIS sees this as benefiting its operations as Hui will be able to back up its new president, Wichian Mektrakarn, in this area. AIS appointed Wichian, previously executive vice president for network operations, on Tuesday. The move is part of the company's aim to enhance its network and service quality and adjust its marketing strategy in order to stand on firmer ground and be more fiercely competitive. AIS executive vice president Chamnarn Maytaprechakul is currently in charge of the company's marketing strategy. As of December, he will report to Hui. Hui's impending posting also coincides with the expiry of Leong Shin Loong's contract. Leong is another SingTel executive and currently AIS executive vice chairman in charge of future business opportunities. A price war in the second quarter prompted call jams among the various Thai cellular networks but AIS seemed to be the hardest hit, given its long-held reputation for having the highest network quality. SingTel, which is a strategic partner with a 20-per-cent stake in AIS, is majority owned by Singapore's state investment arm Temasek Holdings. Temasek controls Shin Corp through its subsidiaries, Cedar Holdings and Aspen Holdings. AIS posted a second-quarter net profit of Bt4.126 billion, a drop of 22 per cent quarter on quarter, due to the price war. Shin posted a second-quarter net profit of Bt1.6 billion, down from Bt2.26 billion in the previous quarter and lower than the Bt2.228 billion earned in the same period last year. AIS's share price yesterday closed at Bt92.50, down by 1.07 per cent, while Shin closed unchanged at Bt33.50.
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