Unanimous vote“Prof. Dr. Wiles Phurivatch”Chulalongkorn University President appointed as new MCOT board chair, promoting policies to rapidly revive business and increase revenue, while preparing to transform Channel 9 into a learning channel for Thai people.
On 7 May, reporters reported that the board meeting of MCOT Public Company Limited unanimously appointed Prof. Dr. Wiles Phurivatch, President of Chulalongkorn University and Chair of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand, as the new MCOT chairman. The board expressed confidence in his broad vision and expertise in modern communication strategies driven by AI, which will be a key mechanism to help MCOT overcome changing consumer behaviors and effectively compete with foreign platforms.
Prof. Dr. Wiles is a distinguished expert combining academic and international business administration expertise. He graduated from leading universities including Chulalongkorn and Thammasat, earned a master's from Yale University and a doctorate from Oxford University, and has experience working with global companies such as IBM, P&G, and Hakuhodo. Currently, he holds important international positions including President of the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) and Chair of the Asia-Europe Lifelong Learning Network (ASEM LLL Hub), both internationally recognized organizations. He also initiated the establishment of Chula XL (Extension and Lifelong Learning), a new college at Chulalongkorn that integrates knowledge from various disciplines to systematically connect with all age groups, addressing societal and labor market changes. With experience spanning academic and media business dimensions, his appointment is seen as a crucial turning point for MCOT to adapt to the new era, elevating the national media’s role as a genuine engine for creating learning opportunities and driving society.
Further reports say that after taking office, Prof. Dr. Wiles set urgent policies to revive business by preparing to transform Channel 9 MCOT HD and all affiliated media into a Learning Station, integrating all platforms to enhance professional skills and knowledge for Thais of all ages, thereby creating sustainable economic opportunities for the country.
Prof. Dr. Wiles is the second university president to serve as MCOT chairman; previously, Prof. Dr. Surapol Nitikraipoj, former President of Thammasat University, held the position from 2008 to 2011.