Wallaya Chirathivat

President — Central Group

About Wallaya Chirathivat

Key facts Role: President Organisation: Central Group Country: Thailand Sector: Retail and property Headline figures: Group revenue of more than THB520 billion; more than 138,000 employees across 18 countries In September 2026 Central Group, Thailand's largest retail and property conglomerate, named Wallaya Chirathivat its president as part of a leadership overhaul it calls "The Next Chapter". The move takes her from running the group's listed shopping-mall developer, Central Pattana, to a group-wide post at the top of a family business that operates in 18 countries across Asia and Europe. She now sits alongside Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Tos Chirathivat. The role Central Group says it operates in more than 140 cities, with over 7 million square metres of commercial space, revenue of more than THB520 billion, over 45 million loyalty-programme members and more than 138,000 employees, according to The Nation. As president, Wallaya is responsible for group strategy, with a focus on connecting and integrating the capabilities of its retail, property and corporate businesses. She also represents the group in dealings with government, investors, business partners and international networks, and takes on strategic assignments directly from the executive chairman. The top team comprises Tos Chirathivat, Wallaya, Executive Vice Chairman Prin Chirathivat, Executive Director Pichai Chirathivat and Chief Financial Officer Pandit Mongkolkul. Background She has spent more than 40 years in the group. Educated in economics at UCLA, with an MBA from the University of Hartford and Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program, she was an executive vice-president of Central Retail Corporation from 1998 to 2004. She then moved to Central Pattana (CPN), where she led business development and project construction for 13 years, became deputy chief executive in 2018 and was president and chief executive from 2022. Her record at CPN underpins the promotion. The group credits her with expanding CPN's portfolio of shopping-centre and mixed-use developments from 10 projects to 45. In 2025 the company posted record results, with revenue of THB53 billion and net profit of more than THB19 billion. Fortune named her among its Most Powerful Women in Asia in 2024 and 2025, and she was the first Thai executive to win CEO of the Year at the Retail Asia Awards in 2024, the group says. The handover The handover at CPN took effect on 1 May 2026, when Chanavat Uahwatanasakul succeeded her as chief executive. CPN's shareholder meeting on 29 April 2026 was told that she would remain a director because of her "extensive experience and deep knowledge" of the business, particularly during an "important transition period". She still sits on CPN's board and its risk policy committee. The restructuring goes beyond her appointment. A new Central Group board, chaired by Prof Emeritus Dr Suthiphand Chirathivat, was appointed early in 2026, and an executive committee chaired by Tos Chirathivat was set up in April. Tos has linked the changes to fast technological change, particularly in artificial intelligence, and shifting consumer behaviour. Regional weight Her regional and international weight comes from the group's footprint. Central Group runs retail and property businesses in 18 countries across Asia and Europe. Her new mandate to represent it with governments and investors puts her at the centre of cross-border deals and partnerships at a time of volatile consumer demand. What to watch next: how she uses the new president's role to integrate the group's retail and property arms, whether CPN keeps up its growth under its new chief executive, and her part in any significant group-level investments or partnerships in 2027. She ranks 21st because she has moved from running Thailand's leading mall developer to a group-wide role at the country's largest retail empire, with a remit covering strategy, investors and government. Sources The Nation Thailand (Suchariya Sunthornporncharoen, sourced from Thansettakij), Central Group restructures leadership for next chapter of growth , 3 Sep 2026 The Story Thailand (press release), Central Group appoints Wallaya Chirathivat as President to lead 'The Next Chapter' , 3 Sep 2026 Central Pattana, Board of Directors page (Wallaya Chirathivat profile, shareholding as at 30 Jun 2026), accessed 29 Sep 2026 Central Pattana, Minutes of the 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (English translation)

Why this entry is on the list

She ranks 21st because she has moved from running Thailand's leading mall developer to a group-wide role at the country's largest retail empire, with a remit covering strategy, investors and government. The group credits her with expanding Central Pattana's portfolio from 10 projects to 45, and Central Group says it has revenue of more than THB520 billion across 18 countries.