Stokes has spent time in both global strategic and in-market operational roles. His depth of experience comes from having held a range of positions in the fields of marketing, finance and strategy, including three and a half years in Asia and three years at Volvo Car's world headquarters in Sweden.

"We have a strong history in both Thailand and Asia, and there are significant parallels between Asian values of, for example, 'the importance of the family' and the humanistic values of the Volvo brand, which positions us well for the future" said Stokes.

Burma to allocate jade-mine blocks

Burma will grant 319 jade-mining blocks to local entrepreneurs in a bid to promote jade production in the country, The Myanmar Times reported last week.

Among the unexplored jade blocks allotted, 139 are in Kachin state's Moenyin and 180 in Sagaing division's Khamhti, the report quoted the state-run Myanmar Gems Enterprise as saying.

Each block measures 0.4 hectare and will be leased for three years, the report said.

Jade is one of Burma's major foreign-currency earners, ranking as the country's fourth-largest export sector in the fiscal year 2005-06 with US$205.47 million (Bt7.14 billion), said the report.