KPN's founder Porntip Narongdej passes away

She was 67. Her sudden death is a big loss to the family and the business community.
Porntip started in business when she was only 17 as a secretary to her father, renowned industrialist Thaworn Pornprapa, who built up a leading automobile company, Siam Motors Group, from scratch.
As his group diversified into many fields such as tourism, music, finance and insurance, Porntip was observant and developed her own capacity. During her reign at Siam Motors, she managed the group to reach its peak with sales of over Bt80 billion.
Porntip’s extensive and in-depth experience in automobiles paved the way for her to form KPN with her husband Dr Kasem Narongdej.
The turning point came when she married Kasem in 1969. As a wedding gift, Thaworn awarded the couple Siam Yamaha Co. Under her guidance, the company won the right to become the first manufacturer of Yamaha motorcycles outside Japan.
Later, with help from her husband, she formed KPN Group, serving as its president and chief executive officer. The group has diverse businesses ranging from manufacturing and real estate to music academies. Established in 1992 as their wholly owned business, “KPN” is derived from its founders’ names – Kasem and Porntip Narongdej.
The formation of KPN coincided with Thailand’s emergence as a manufacturing base for the Japanese automobile and motorcycle industry. It started off as the sole manufacturer and distributor of Yamaha motorcycles, then added all major Japanese brands except Kawasaki.
The group expanded rapidly into the stamping, casting and forging of metal parts and the production of various electric, electronic and plastic components for various marques.
The group supplied components and parts for up to 80 per cent of the market’s needs when manufacturing was KPN’s primary business.
Now, the business is under the guidance of their three sons – Krit, Nop and Korn.
A wake will be held at her Bangkok residence in Sukhumvit Soi 49 for seven days starting today, before her body is transferred to the family’s cemetery in Chon Buri. Guests are kindly asked not to bring a funeral wreath.