‘JUNE’ YEAR ROUND
Jareeporn Jarukornsakul balances her duties as boss of WHA Corporation with the rigours of an active private life.
WHA’s Jareeporn Jarukornsakul calls herself a work-hard, play-hard executive.
As the leader of WHA Corporation, Jareeporn “June” Jarukornsakul describes herself as a work-hard, play-hard woman with an ambition to advance her company.
Each week, Ms Jareeporn, 51, spends seven days at work and in meetings and business talks with customers, business leaders and government officials. She also gives frequent speeches to the public to share her ideas about the country’s industrial development.
As a result, Ms Jareeporn has become one of the most influential women in Thai business society. “I have my passion in my work and it is my happiness to do it,” she says.
2003, Ms Jareeporn and her late husband, Somyos Back in founded Anantaprayoon, WHA Corporation provide complete solution for warehouses and to factories. Through a the couple’s efforts, WHA listed on
2012. the In Stock 2015, Exchange WHA acquired of Thailand Hemaraj in
Land and Develestate development oper, and Plc, changed Thailand’s the company biggest industrial name to WHA Industrial Development (WHA ID). The group has two additional related businesses
— WHA Utilities and Power Plc and WHA Infonite Co for the digital platform — to support the main units. Every milestone of WHA marks a chapter in the life story of Ms Jareeporn and Somyos, and she always led the company with great support from her husband. As chairman and chief executive, Ms Jareeporn oversaw a rise in WHA’s profit from 200 million baht in 2012 to nearly 2 billion baht in 2015. As of 2017, WHA had market capital of 57.3 billion baht and posted full- year revenue of 12.4 billion baht, netting a profit of 3.27 billion baht. WHA has a business presence not only in Thailand, but also in Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam. The group provides the full spectrum for industrial operators: warehouses, logistics, industrial land, built- to- suit factories, power utilities and digital solutions.
After Somyos passed away in February, Ms Jareeporn said her life has remained normal and her passion to expand WHA’s business growth domestically and overseas hasn’t faded. In 2018, Ms Jareeporn is ranked 37th among Thailand’s 50 richest people with her net worth of US$ 820 million. PASSIONATE ENTREPRENEUR Ms Jareeporn’s family has a garment business and she is the second generation, so this experience was her Entrepreneurism 101 class. “I learned and understood the business owner’s mindset, while my parents instilled the priceless value of hard work,” Ms Jareeporn says. “I started my business when I was 36 after graduating with a master’s degree in business administration.” Since taking the big step to establish WHA, Ms Jareeporn has faced problems typical of any workplace, but her mindset is to think positive and work on solving the problem. “My father always thought that humans are born to create problems and solve them until each person
dies,” she says. “So I think no problem, no progress. If you never have them, you cannot improve yourself.” BOOK LOVER,SPORTSWOMAN Ms Jareeporn calls herself a bookworm and names Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong and Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder as favourite reads. “These books have inspired me with many concepts and thoughts about determination, patience, strategy, hard work, battles, relationships, power and diplomacy,” she says. “Reading books is my relaxing time from my work routine, and a couple of them are always beside my bed.” Another off- work pastime is hitting her personal gym at home. “My favourite one is Thai boxing, as it is like meditation, which demands uninterrupted attention,” Ms Jareeporn says. “When I am sparring with an opponent, I cannot allow any seconds to wander as the opponent can punch my face, so Thai boxing can unleash my inner warrior.” For her, Thai boxing is a method of improving physical and mental performance.
“Thai boxing is a complex martial art that is more than just increasing heart rate,” Ms Jareeporn says. “It helps me to improve my flexibility because techniques require me to manoeuvre and bend my body.
Thai boxing is also known as the art of eight limbs and uses a multitude of kicks, punches, knees and elbows with fluidity and grace.
Ms Jareeporn says she has practised Thai boxing for six years and also does yoga and body combat with her private trainer.
“All workout activities are aimed at maintaining my health,” she says. “I make a point twice a week to
spend an hour with a 200-time jump rope and weight training.” HOPE FOR NEW CORRIDOR The government is pushing hard to develop the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme to attract new investment flow to the country.
Since WHA runs many warehouses, factories and industrial estates in two provinces of the corridor, Chon Buri and Rayong, Ms Jareeporn says she’s ready to reap the benefits of the new business opportunity.
WHA has nine industrial estates operated by WHA ID. All nine have been approved to become special industrial zones by the EEC management committee.
The nine estates are located in two EEC provinces, spanning 34,434 rai.
“Those nine locations will be instrumental in upgrading the 12 targeted industries in the corridor,” Ms Jareeporn says.
WHA has many collaborations with the government in the corridor and expects future growth from 2019 onward. “WHA’s business role is as industrial infrastructure provider,” Ms Jareeporn says. “More importantly, WHA is a Thai company to represent the country, so WHA should be part of the mobilisation for the corridor.
“I always take the opportunity to share business ideas with the government, which is now listening to many voices from the private sector, and I am confident that as business operators, each Thai company is always thinking about more benefits to improve the country.”
Ms Jareeporn aims to push WHA forward as the core engine for implementing the EEC scheme. “Today, WHA has an ambitious strategy to become the most desirable place for industrial companies that would like to start or expand their business presence, not only in Thailand, but across the Southeast Asian
region,” she says. “Under my leadership, WHA has the core competency to offer well- organised facilities in prime logistic locations and provide an integrated one- stop- service solution to all customers.”
So I think no problem, no progress. If you never have them, you cannot improve yourself. JAREEPORN JARUKORNSAKUL WHA CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE