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Published on July 23, 2007

In a way, he was practising customer-relations management even before the term was created and heavily promoted among Thai companies.

And now he wants his son, Chartsiri, the current president of Bangkok Bank, to follow his path. Still, the way he expressed his desire was surprising. He talked to the press as if he didn't care whether such public statements embarrassed his son.

The remark last week was surprising. Given that they are family, why couldn't Chatri have simply whispered that idea into his son's ear? Why did he have to say it in front of the press?

Wasn't he worried that Chartsiri would lose face, having to read the chairman's order in the press?

An insider explained it.

It is well known that Chartsiri is not the chatty type. People who know him say he prefers to spend his time in his office.

While other bank presidents speak at seminars, Chartsiri is not so visible in public.

His humble style has led many to believe that he is shy and convinced many that he is father's boy, ready to please his daddy.

However, the insider bluntly rejected the surmise. "Khun Chartsiri has never really listened to his father. Khun Chatri has never been able to order him about."

Hmmm, indeed? Chatri suggested something to that effect to the press. "I have no power to tell him to do this or that," he said in a cynical tone. In other companies this is not strange as the president is to some extent shielded from intervention.

But an intervention shield is incomprehensible at

Bangkok Bank, where chairman and president are father and son.

Probably Chartsiri knows that he has power over his father through his children. It is known to all family members that Chartsiri's children are grandpa's darlings.

The insider said the grandchildren were now the ones who regularly called Chatri.

Despite being chairman of the country's largest financial institution, Chatri is answerable to his grandchildren at home and loves to go about in their company.

That may explain why Chatri had to say to the press what he meant to say to his son.

achara_d@nationgroup.com