Early Life
Dhanin Chearavanont was born on April 19, 1939, in Bangkok, Thailand. He is the fourth and youngest son of Chia Ek Chor, who, along with his brother, started a seed shop in Bangkok in the 1920s. Dhanin attended primary school at the Chinese Sarasit Wittaya school and later studied in China and Hong Kong.
Rise to Success
Dhanin took the helm of CP Group in 1970, transforming it into a global conglomerate. He expanded the business aggressively into various industries, including retail with the introduction of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Thailand and telecommunications. Dhanin's strategic foresight enabled the group to expand aggressively into other industries, including retail, telecommunications, and food production. He built a close relationship with the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, which allowed CP to become the largest foreign lessee of land in China.
Key Business Strategies
One of Dhanin's key strategies was recognizing the potential of vertical integration in the agribusiness sector, ensuring CP Group's dominance in the supply chain. He also emphasized the '3-Benefit Principle' (Benefit to the country, the society, and the company) in business. Dhanin has been credited with transforming CP Group from a family-run business to a professionally managed corporate giant.
Philanthropy
Dhanin has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts, including a $21.8 million donation to combat COVID-19. He has also been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the world's philanthropists for several years.
