Power Buy Co, one of Thailand's biggest retailers of electrical appliances, IT gadgets and electronics, has set aside an investment budget of 510 million baht for business expansion this year.
Mr Pauze brings decades of retail experience to his new posting as Power Buy president.
The plan comes despite stagnant sales in the overall electrical appliance market.
Laurent Pauze, the company's newly appointed president, said the budget is up nearly double from last year's 270 million baht.
Of the 510 million baht to be spent this year, 264 million will go to opening six Power Buy stores upcountry and renovating 18 existing stores nationwide. The additional stores will bring Power Buy's tally to 92 branches this year.
Some 150 million baht will be spent on IT, the digital platform, self-ordering kiosks and digital signage, and the remaining 96 million will go to distribution centre improvements, after-sale services and human resource development.
Power Buy's main business strategy this year is to push forward its Omni Channel, which sells products via various distribution platforms such as online and self-ordering kiosks.
The company has just rolled out the first self-ordering kiosks at Power Buy stores on Rama II Road and in Lop Buri province. The goal is to provide self-ordering kiosks at all 84 Power Buy stores within the next three years.
Mr Pauze has 20 years of experience in appliances, electronics and e-commerce business at the French hypermarket chain Carrefour, as well as with Real Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Metro Group, the German retail giant.
He plans to strengthen Power Buy's online business, which stood at 100 million baht last year and contributed just 1% to the company's sales.
According to Mr Pauze, market competition in electrical appliances and IT products is fierce, though the market may not see exceptionally high growth this year.
"But we still see opportunities to grow," he said. "However, in retail you have to be fast. Speed is more important, so we want to change the company's working culture."
He wants to employ the think-fast method at the company to speed up decision-making.
Jiralak Na Chiengtung, the company's vice-president for marketing, said Thailand's market for electrical appliances, electronics and IT was worth 235 billion baht last year, up 1% from 2015.
According to market researcher GFK, Thailand's market for electronics, electrical appliances and IT is forecast to grow by 2% to 239.7 billion baht this year.
Power Buy sales grew by 1% in 2016 to 15.82 billion baht. Under the new plan, the company expects sales to grow by 8% and reach 17.09 billion baht this year.