Following a full year of attacks on the group's business, they were all ears waiting for confirmation from Shin executive chairman Boonklee Plangsiri that he would not resign and leave them holding the baby.

And the quarterly management open session was the opportunity for them to put the question to Boonklee, who has been at the management helm of Shin Group for over 10 years. They packed the meeting room, expecting a straight answer.

As if he knew what was on their minds, he told them before the question was even asked that he would not resign.

"I know what you're all expecting to hear. At 57, I really want to spend time grooming my successor, as Khun Chumpol [na Lamlieng, former president of Siam Cement] and Khun Jada [Wattanasiritham, former president of Siam Commercial Bank] did … I'm staying on." He admitted that Shin was in transition but said all employees should pull together and realise that the attacks were on shareholders, not them. At all events, he said, Shin Corp should achieve its target of service excellence.

While no doubt wholeheartedly embracing this, the executives may be forgiven any lingering doubts about whether his successor will be named at the next quarterly session and by whom: Boonklee himself, Shin's major shareholder Temasek Holdings or some new shareholder.

Travelling in hope

All who travel recognise that there are inconveniences to be endured. That's why many businessmen are ready to pay more for business- and first-class tickets. But what Korsak Chairasmisak, CEO of CP Seven Eleven Plc, has learnt is that that does not guarantee everything, especially if the airline you fly is Thailand's national carrier Thai Airways International.

On March 11, aside from the unsolved heat problem at Suvarnabhumi Airport, he encountered a long queue as only four counters were open; the remaining 38 for first- and business-class check-ins were closed as it was Sunday. When he complained, he was advised to notify THAI.

In his open letter, he recalled the strike in Sydney in 1992 when THAI passengers were stranded while Singapore Airlines passengers walked, albeit slowly, to their planes.

Obviously in deep disappointment, he ended the letter: "We're having problems with Singapore, but don't forget that Singapore's airline and airport are one of the three best. Don't let prejudice blind you to the good points that we can learn from to improve our service, or the world may leave us behind, because it does not have the same reason to love THAI that I have."

achara_d@nationgroup.com