Thakoon Boonparn a senior media executive and veteran journalist of the Matichon Group, has died. He was 59.
The vice-chairman of Matichon Plc passed away on Tuesday at his home after battling cancer since last year.
After graduating with an international relations degree from Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, he began his career as a reporter at Matichon Thai-language newspaper in 1984.
He later moved on to report for Prachachart Turakit newspaper, a sister financial news publication of Matichon, where he later rose to news editor.
With his experience there, he remained an expert on finance and fiscal affairs of the group.
In 1990, he helped rehabilitate Khaosod newspaper, which his uncle, Khanchai Boonpan, acquired. He started working there as chief of the provincial news desk.
He was the executive editor of Khaosod during 1991-2003, responsible for its trajectory to be among the top three dailies with the highest sales, according to Matichon Online.
During 2004-10, he served as the editor-in-chief of Khaosod where he played a key role in its development and transition to online media. His legacy paved the way for Khaosod to become the online news outlet with the most views in the country.
From 2010 to 2014, he took the role as general manager, and then managing director, of the Matichon Group.
In 2019, he was diagnosed with cancer and served as vice-chairman of the board.
Throughout his career, he penned several columns for the group's publications, the latest of which was for Matichon Weekly.
He was survived by his wife Wisatree and his son.
The bathing rite will be held at 3pm on Wednesday at Samian Naree Temple in Bangkok, followed by a seven-day chanting ceremony, which took place daily at 6pm at the monastery, through Jan 19.
Shares of Matichon (MATI) closed unchanged at 4.58 baht on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Tuesday.