The process of selecting the new president of Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) could be scrapped as four out of the nine candidates are unlikely to meet the required qualifications, according to a source at the airline.
If the candidates fail to meet the announced criteria and the selection process is stopped, the airline may have to pick one of its executives to serve as acting president until the position can be filled, said the source.
THAI board chairman Areepong Bhoocha-oom said the company's board meeting on Wednesday did not touch on how the company will replace incumbent president Charamporn Jotikasthira, whose term ends in February next year.
The president selection panel, chaired by permanent secretary for finance Somchai Sujjapongse, reported it is now in the process of checking the qualifications of the nine applicants, Mr Areepong said.
It could take a week before the qualified candidates are announced, and they then have to present their visions on how to they will lead the company, he said. The board will have to wait for the selection outcome by the panel, the chairman said.
According to the source, the qualifications of the candidates will be examined in two ways. The first subjects the candidates to legal checks by up to eight constitution-based organisations, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG). The process could take some time, the source noted.
The second examination will look at their suitability for the job, which will be carried out by the selection panel, the source said.
"The panel has run a preliminary check on the qualifications of the nine candidates and four of them did not fit the criteria announced in the job description," the source said.
The criteria say that applicants must not have held executive roles or had administrative powers in companies with an interest in THAI in the three years preceding their job application.
"Four people have failed because they have held executive roles in companies which have an interest in THAI," the source said.
"To let them hold the executive position could lead to them offering benefits to these companies."
According to the source, one of the four is Narongchai Wongthanavimok, THAI executive vice president for finance and accounting.
He was found to have left CIMB Thai Bank less than three years ago, where he served as executive vice president. CIMB Thai has been a business partner of THAI.
The other three are Sarene Sukhum, assistant chief executive officer of Singha Corporation Co; Pratana Mongkolkul, a major shareholder of Mc Group Plc; and Vichet Tantivanich, senior vice president of Thai Beverage Plc.
The source said the selection panel will also ask the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo), which supervises THAI, to interpret the definition of "interest" so as to decide whether the candidates are qualified for the job.
The source admitted the four are likely to be disqualified. If more clarity on the issue is needed, the Council of State could be asked to step in.
"The selection panel has not yet specified when the selection outcome will be concluded," the source said. "We cannot pressure the NACC or the OAG to speed up the examinations of their qualifications."
The panel only held one meeting on the issue last week, the source added.
The government recently launched a policy to promote investment in high-technology businesses, including aviation-related sectors.