Chin Sophonpanich
Encyclopedia
Chin Sophonpanich was the founder of Bangkok Bank
and Bangkok Insurance
.
, who was a sawmill clerk, and a Thai mother in Thonburi
, Bangkok
, although some sources stated otherwise that he was born in Shantou
before he migrated to Thailand
. At five years old, Chin was sent back to China for education, and upon returning to Thailand he took up his first job as a manual labourer upon returning to Thailand at 17.
In 1944, Chin founded the Bangkok Bank, which started off with only two shophouses. The bank later expanded and diversified its branches into Hong Kong
, and Chin lived in Hong Kong from 1957 onwards when Thailand came under the rule of Sarit Thanarat, after he fell out of favour with the former dictator. By 1972, the bank was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Chin died at the age of 78 in 1988. He had two wives. With his first wife, Lau Kwei Ying, he had two sons, Rabin Sophonpanich and Chatri Sophonpanich
. With his second wife, Boonsri, he had seven children, including Chote Sophonpanich and the Khunying Chodchoi Sophonpanich.
Chatri Sophonpanich served as president of the Bangkok Bank from 1980 to 1992, and his son, Chartsiri Sophonpanich, has been president since 1994.
Rabin Sophonpanich (also known as Robin Chan) has since relocated to Hong Kong
with his family, and his son, Bernard Chan
later became a local legislator and its Executive Council member.
Chin's daughter-in-law, the Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, wife of Chote Sophonpanich, is currently serving as the Thai Democrat Party
's Minister of Science and Technology. On 23 February 2009, she presided over the opening ceremony of the 2008 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics, ROBIO 2008, held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok Bank
Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited , is a Thai commercial bank, with approximately US$64.6 billion in total assets. Its branch network includes over 1000 branches within Thailand, with 25 international branches or representative offices in 13 economies, spanning ASEAN and major economic countries,...
and Bangkok Insurance
Bangkok Insurance
The Bangkok Insurance Public Company Limited is a Thai insurance company based in Bangkok. The company is one of the leading insurance companies in the country.- History :...
.
Biography
Chin was born to a Chinese immigrant father from ChaoyangChaoyang, Shantou
Chaoyang District is a district in the municipality of Shantou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.-Street Committee :* Wenguang 文光 - pop. 146649* Mianbei 棉北 - pop. 54942* Chengnan 城南 - pop. 108651* Jinpu 金浦 - pop. 79252...
, who was a sawmill clerk, and a Thai mother in Thonburi
Thon Buri (district)
Thon Buri is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Located on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, it was once part of Thon Buri province...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, although some sources stated otherwise that he was born in Shantou
Shantou
Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of...
before he migrated to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. At five years old, Chin was sent back to China for education, and upon returning to Thailand he took up his first job as a manual labourer upon returning to Thailand at 17.
In 1944, Chin founded the Bangkok Bank, which started off with only two shophouses. The bank later expanded and diversified its branches into Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and Chin lived in Hong Kong from 1957 onwards when Thailand came under the rule of Sarit Thanarat, after he fell out of favour with the former dictator. By 1972, the bank was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Chin died at the age of 78 in 1988. He had two wives. With his first wife, Lau Kwei Ying, he had two sons, Rabin Sophonpanich and Chatri Sophonpanich
Chatri Sophonpanich
Chatri Sophonpanich , is second son of Chin Sophonpanich, and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangkok Bank since 1999.-References:...
. With his second wife, Boonsri, he had seven children, including Chote Sophonpanich and the Khunying Chodchoi Sophonpanich.
Chatri Sophonpanich served as president of the Bangkok Bank from 1980 to 1992, and his son, Chartsiri Sophonpanich, has been president since 1994.
Rabin Sophonpanich (also known as Robin Chan) has since relocated to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
with his family, and his son, Bernard Chan
Bernard Chan
Bernard Charnwut Chan , GBS JP is a Hong Kong politician and businessman. He is the grandson of Chin Sophonpanich, the late founder of Bangkok Bank, and is a practicing Roman Catholic...
later became a local legislator and its Executive Council member.
Chin's daughter-in-law, the Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, wife of Chote Sophonpanich, is currently serving as the Thai Democrat Party
Democrat Party (Thailand)
The Democrat Party is Thailand's oldest political party and was the main coalition government party of the 23rd House of Representatives of Thailand. The Democrat Party's current leader is Abhisit Vejjajiva, incumbent opposition leader and former Prime Minister. The party upholds a conservative...
's Minister of Science and Technology. On 23 February 2009, she presided over the opening ceremony of the 2008 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics, ROBIO 2008, held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Source
- The Encyclopedia of the Chinese Overseas, page 223, "The Rise of Bangkok Bank", Michael R.J. Vatikiotis, Harvard University PressHarvard University PressHarvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
, (ISBN 0674252101).