BAY chairman Veraphan Teepsuwan said Charlotte was leaving to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, effective on March 31.

After the bank's merger deal with GE Capital International Holdings, a subsidiary of GE Capital, was completed, executive positions at the bank were significantly restructured.

The positions of chief executive officer and chief financial officer were filled by GE personnel. Charlotte was moved from her position as first senior executive vice president to head of business marketing and public relations.

"Ratanarak Group [BAY's chief shareholder] and GE have no objection to releasing Charlotte to concentrate on working in an industry she is keen to enter. It is an institutional responsibility for BAY to nurture new talent, and it will certainly not be a difficult task," Veraphan said.

Charlotte said in statement that she had been planning to take up a new challenge for about a year as she had a great interest in the entertain-ment industry.

"While the merger with GE was taking place, I felt it was best to delay my plan. Now that the deal is completed and progress on integration is going well, I think it is a good time for me to pursue new challenges." she said.

The bank's new chief executive officer will be taking up the position on March 8, and Charlotte will assist in supporting the transition.

"I am unable to disclose my new position at this time as it is still being processed, but it will be in the entertainment industry, and I will start in April," she said.

Charlotte has held senior positions in the banking and financial services industry for more than 22 years, 12 of which were at BAY and the Ratanarak Group's companies.

During her time at the bank she stewarded a successful brand-revitalisation programme as well introducing innovation in corporate-marketing programmes.

Somruedi Banchongduang

The Nation