Dhanin Chearavanont
Quick Facts
Biography
Dhanin Chearavanont or Chia Kok Min (Thai: ธนินท์ เจียรวนนท์, Chinese: 谢国民; pinyin: Xiè Guómín; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhía2 Kok1-Mín5) (born 1939) is a Thai-Chinese billionaire businessman, based in Bangkok. He is the senior chairman of CP Group, Thailand's largest private company. Dhanin is head of the Chearavanont family, which was ranked by Forbes Asia in 2017 as Asia's fourth-wealthiest family with a net worth of US$36.6 billion.
Early life and education
Chearavanont was born in 1939, the fourth and youngest son of Chia Ek Chor.
Dhanin Chearavanont's father, Chia Ek Chor, and uncle, Chia Seow Hui, left China for Bangkok in the 1920s to begin selling seeds and agricultural chemicals. Their business diversified geographically across Asia, and vertically via a number of technology ventures and contract farming initiatives. In the 1980s, as China opened up to foreign firms, the Charoen Pokphand Group became the preferred partner for international brands such as Honda, Walmart, and Tesco.
Dhanin, his three brothers Jaran, Montri and Sumet and their cousins collectively own the group, which is one of Asia's largest conglomerates and operates in agriculture, telecommunications, marketing, distribution and logistics, international trading, petrochemicals, property and land development, crop integration, insurance, automotive, and pet foods.
Dhanin attended primary school at Sarasit Pittayalai School in Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi until graduating in 1949 and went to graduate from high school in 1951 from Shantou No.1 High School, China and higher education in 1956 from the Education University of Hong Kong including training from the National Defence College of Thailand.
Family businesses
- Ping An Insurance (Largest shareholder, world's largest insurance firm by market capitalization, valued at over US$200 billion as of November, 2017).
- CP All (Second-largest 7-Eleven chain in the world with over 10,000 stores in Thailand)
- C.P. Fresh Mart (Thailand-based chain selling frozen foods and finished products, with over 700 branches)
- Charoen Pokphand (Holding company)
- C.P. Land (Manages several Bangkok properties including C.P. Tower 1 & 2; listed through C.P. Land Infrastructure Fund; market capitalization of over U.S.$300 million)
- CP PC (Major plastic production manufacturer with plants in Thailand, China, and Vietnam).
- C.P. Pokphand (Listed in Hong Kong, one of the world's largest producers of feed and one of China's leading agricultural companies, with factories nationwide)
- Charoen Pokphand Foods (Operations in dozens of countries; world's largest producer of shrimp, animal feed; world's third-largest chicken and pork producer).
- Chester's (Major fast food chain in Thailand).
- Concordian International School (Thailand).
- Lotus Supermarket Chain (China)
- Dayang Motos (China's third-largest motorcycle manufacturer).
- Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (Thailand).
- Siam Makro (Largest Cash & Carry retailer in Thailand).
- Super Brand Mall, Shanghai.
- True Corporation (Largest Internet Service Provider, Cable Television Network, and third largest Wireless Carrier in Thailand).
- True Growth Infrastructure Fund (A $2 billion fund set up to manage True's extensive telecommunication assets including Thailand's largest fibre optic network and largest 3G & 4G cell networks. It became Thailand's second-largest IPO ever in late 2013. True Corp is True GIF's largest shareholder.)