Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief executive of Advanced Info Service (AIS), is tipped to continue in the driver's seat at AIS for another year in 2024 after his term expired at the end of 2022.
The AIS board of directors is expected to make an announcement on the extension soon.
The renewal enables Mr Somchai to continue building AIS's service capacities and operations as it transforms into a "cognitive tech" company by 2024.
The company is also handling procedures related to the recent takeover of fixed broadband internet provider Triple T Broadband (TTTBB).
According to an executive on the board who requested anonymity, Mr Somchai prepared a succession plan in mid-2022, but the board has yet to signal the start of any recruitment for the post.
Typically for a change at the chief executive position, recruitment would have started by the third quarter to allow a transition period for the new selection, said the source.
The source said Mr Somchai agreed to continue in the role at AIS on a year-by-year basis.
The organisational structure and management of InTouch Holdings and AIS have changed significantly in recent years, especially since Gulf Energy Development became a major shareholder in InTouch.
After Gulf's investment in ordinary shares of InTouch and its tender offer for all the latter's securities in 2021, as of Aug 24 this year Gulf held around 47.37% in InTouch, while SingTel Global Investment held 24.99%, according to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
As of the same period, InTouch owned 40.44% of AIS, while SingTel Strategic Investments had 23.31%.
Local capital has influence on the organisational direction much more than in the past, the source said.
An industry veteran who requested anonymity said it was reasonable Mr Somchai continue at the helm as the company faces several critical issues.
Mr Somchai is expected to remain chief executive at AIS next year.
The telecom business is a unique and complicated sector, involving a state telecom concession regime in the past, requiring close relations with the government, political leaders and the military, said the veteran, noting Gulf has strong connections with all three.
Previously Mr Somchai told the Bangkok Post 2024 was the year AIS would strengthen its service capacities and launch innovations to move towards its next evolution.
He said this evolution will be achieved through AIS's three core pillars of development: digital infrastructure, cross-industry collaboration, and the sustainable growth of people and society.
AIS has invested around 1 trillion baht into its network expansion spanning 30 years, said Mr Somchai.
The company has 46,590 cell sites nationwide and 254,000 kilometres of fibre cables.
In terms of broadband internet infrastructure, AIS's collaboration with TTTBB is set to extend access to more than 13 million households nationwide.