Michael Gorman, editor of the Bangkok Post from 1971-1983, died on Sept 11 at his home in southwestern France after a short illness. He was 76.
Gorman at his desk at the Post: Left a strong mark on Asian media.
Apart from being editor and publisher of the Bangkok Post, Gorman was also managing director of Allied Printers.
Born in Croydon, United Kingdom and a graduate from Bristol University majoring in economics, Gorman came to Thailand in 1970 after having worked with the Thomson Organisation Limited since 1960.
He was a trustee of the Press Foundation of Asia for 10 years and was an active member of the International Press Institute. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society and member of the Institute of Marketing.
Gorman successfully steered the Bangkok Post through a turbulent period in recent Thai history while securing its financial situation, eventually listing Post Publishing Co on the SET Index in 1980.
He oversaw the merger of the Bangkok Post and its rival morning daily the Bangkok World in 1972 with the World reverting to a tabloid evening paper.
At a time when Thailand was under heavy pressure from both democratic revolutions and military coups, Gorman successfully guided the Post. He was jailed briefly in the early 1980s after offending the military autocrat Gen Kriangsak Chomanan.
Under his stewardship the Post was selected to help the Chinese government set up its first English-language newspaper, the China Daily. Gorman also established Thailand’s first non-contributory pension scheme for staff.
Gorman resigned from the company on May 1, 1985.
He is survived by his wife Christine, and children Julius, Benedict and Chloe.