Meet Nichita Shah, heiress of GP Group, a Thai billionaire and owner of the vessel “Mayuri Nari,” which was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, along with her business empire valued at over 30 billion baht.
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the name of the cargo ship “Mayuri Nari” has been widely mentioned after it became a target of an attack by Iran while passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Behind this vessel is a connection to a Thai-Indian businesswoman named “Nichita Shah.” She comes from Thailand’s 34th wealthiest family, according to Forbes magazine, and is a key executive of GP Group, a large business empire worth more than 30 billion baht.
Nichita Shah is 44 years old and the eldest daughter of Kirit Shah, a businessman who built the GP Group empire from a family business into a large conglomerate operating across many industries in Thailand and abroad. She currently holds the position of Group Managing Director and plays a vital role in driving the business group, which includes over 17 subsidiary industries and more than 4,000 employees.
Nichita was raised in a family where business is an important legacy. The company’s origins trace back to the family’s rice trading business before Kirit Shah expanded it into a large conglomerate active in industries ranging from shipping, pharmaceuticals and health, infrastructure, energy, mining, chemicals to technology. GP Group’s flagship company is Precious Shipping Company Limited, a shipping company founded in 1989.
Nichita graduated with a bachelor's degree in business law and finance from Boston University. She began helping manage the family business at a young age and gradually rose to become a key leader within the organization.
The relationship between Nichita and her father is not only familial but also as “business partners,” jointly shaping the organization’s direction. Kirit Shah has said he encourages his children to study any field as long as it remains within the business world so they can continue the family enterprise.
This trust is reflected in Nichita’s role as a major individual shareholder in Precious Shipping, and in her significant contribution to adapting the family’s business portfolio to align with the modern economy.
Although raised in a large business environment, Nichita also has an interest in fashion and has launched her own brand called “Nsha.” She is also active in the startup and investment scene, having appeared as an investor board member on the show Shark Tank Thailand.
Under her leadership, GP Group continues to expand investments into new businesses, especially in health and innovation, while emphasizing employee development, which she views as the key to long-term growth. She often says, “People” are the heart of business growth.
Beyond business, Nichita is involved in social activities ranging from supporting education to fundraising for breast cancer patients and disaster victims.
Previously, Nichita collaborated with Ann Jakrapong Jakrajutatip, former CEO of JKN Group, to co-manage the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), a global organization and owner of the Miss Universe brand, aiming to list it on the New York Stock Exchange. However, JKN was delisted from the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
Less known is that she is a licensed pilot and has said her inspiration for business and philanthropy comes from global investors like Warren Buffett, and the philanthropic vision of Bill Gates. She has stated that in the future, she plans to dedicate most of her personal assets to social causes through her family’s foundation.
From business heiress to leader of a major corporation, Nichita Shah is not only one of Thailand’s wealthiest women but also represents a new generation of business leaders striving to expand their empire in today’s economic world.