She is leaving the bank on March 30 after working there for a decade and is to enter the entertainment industry.

Her resignation last week surprised the bank's staff and the banking community although it was rumoured earlier that she would leave after the BAY-GE acquisition deal was completed.

"I know all about the banking business. I can do the work with my eyes closed. I have been in the industry for long time. This year is my 10th anniversary at the bank, so I want to take up a new challenge.

"I had intended to leave after the BAY-GE deal went through. I knew it [her resignation] would come one day, but with my responsibilities I thought I should wait until everything had gone through. My resignation doesn't stem from petulance," she said.

Before the acquisition by GE, Charlotte was BAY's first senior executive vice president. She oversaw the retail-banking business and was also spokeswoman for the country's sixth largest lender. After the deal was completed, the bank's management structure was changed considerably.

Exhausted by it all, Charlotte said she felt burned out. To boost the bank's retail banking business, all of her resources, both physical and mental, were utilised.

Charlotte said she felt that she had done more than expected at the bank, particularly acting as spokeswoman, for which she needed to know most of the bank's affairs.

"I knew a lot, so I talked a lot," she said.

Charlotte had become BAY's figurehead after successfully turning the once conservative bank into a modern and dynamic institution by introducing an effective rebranding strategy. Her favourite colour, yellow, is now the bank's corporate colour.

Having previously worked for an entertainment company, she did not expect people to be surprised that she planned to return to the industry.

She resigned as chief executive of Media of Medias in order to concentrate on the acquisition deal, and now she will be going back to take up the same position. However, the appointment has not yet been officially announced.

The Ratanarak Group is a major shareholder of both BAY and Media of Medias, which also belongs to BBTV Production, the operator of Channel 7. Krit Ratanarak, the bank's major shareholder, also holds a majority stake in BBTV.

Asked why she had remained at BAY for so long despite career opportunities elsewhere, Charlotte said her respect and faith in Krit had made her stay. She also dismissed speculation that she had resigned because she was upset with Krit.

In contrast to the staid image of the financial sector, Charlotte said she thought she would have to make her fashion style more colourful when working in the entertainment industry. "The colour symbol at Media of Medias is orange, so I'm looking for clothes of that colour, as right now I have a wardrobe full of yellow outfits," she said.

Somruedi Banchongduang

The Nation