Piyasvasti to take THAI reins on Oct 9

"That's less than the Bt1.2 million a month he earned at Kasikornbank, but that's acceptable to Piyasvasti, because he |wants to engage in solving the financial and operating problems |of THAI, the national carrier. He wants to make it the final achievement before his retirement," the source said.

The source said Piyasvasti's first day at THAI was scheduled for October 9 for a transparency reason.

Piyasvasti used to be a director at Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services (BASF), which supplies jet fuel to THAI and other airlines.

That raised questions about whether his signing on with THAI was a conflict of interest. The |selection committee and Legal Department later found there to |be no such conflict, because jet |fuel was not a main business of THAI.

October 8 will mark the third anniversary of the end of his |BASF directorship and legally qualifies him for his new position at THAI.

The airline's board originally wanted Piyasvasti to take office now, but it agreed to this condition, the source said.

Piyasvasti beat out six candidates in the race to become THAI president. His highest position to date has been energy minister, in the Surayud Chulanont administration.