Thailand’s Role in Your Global Manufacturing Strategy
Alex Bryant
President
East West Associates
Alex is the Founder and President of East West Associates (EWA), which provides operational, commercial and risk management solutions in China, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Central Eastern Europe. Prior to founding EWA, Alex was the Director of International Sales and Business Development for Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, where he developing/executing global strategic initiatives through partnerships, joint ventures and licensing arrangements, introducing disciplined product development procedures with manufacturing, R&D and technical divisions to increase sales of new products, building an Asian, European and South American customer base and management of sales, marketing and product distribution in these areas, and marketing patented and trademarked products to global converters and end-users within each foreign market.
Nanthapol Sudbanthad
Director
Thailand Board of Investment, Investment Consul of the Royal Thai Consulate-General of New York under the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the United States
Nanthapol is responsible for attracting inward investment from companies based in U.S. and Canada. He was promoted to the position in 2023 after having served as a Director of Thailand Board of Investment in Mumbai, India for five years. Before he assumed his duty in Mumbai, he had worked as an Investment Promotion Officer. He was responsible for analyzing investment projects in the Agriculture and Food Industries for more than 20 years. The Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) is a government agency under the Office of the Prime Minister. The BOI was established in 1966 in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Promotion Act. Its core roles and responsibilities are to promote valuable investment, both investment into Thailand and Thai overseas investment by providing information, services, and incentives.
Mark Plum
Director of East West Associates, and former President of Briggs & Stratton Asia
East West Associates
Mark has lived and worked in Thailand and China and has had P&L responsibilities for managing Western multinational companies in Asia for over 20 years before joining EWA. This position included P/L responsibility comprised of multiple manufacturing facilities and distribution operations, sales offices and warehouses in China, Philippines and Osaka, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Taiwan. Mark also worked for American Standard (Trane Air Conditioning Division) in Thailand. Mark has a Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of International Management, Phoenix, Arizona.
Steve Blyth
Director of East West Associates Thailand, and former senior executive for Volvo Cars
East West Associates Thailand
Steve Blyth is a distinguished executive with a rich history at Volvo Cars, where he has served in several high-profile roles across the globe. His career began as a Business Development Manager in Korea, eventually leading to senior positions such as Vice President of Commercial Operations in Thailand, Director of Commercial Services in Taiwan, and Managing Director in Australia & New Zealand. Steve's leadership skills were further recognized when he became the President & Chief Executive Officer for Volvo Cars in Mexico & Canada. Currently, he is the Director of EWA Thailand, applying his extensive industry experience to drive success in new ventures. Steve has lived and worked in Australia, Korea, Singapore, and Canada, and holds a BS in Business from Swinburne University, Melbourne, and a MA from The London School of Economics, underscoring his global perspective and academic prowess in business.
Vanessa Miller
Partner
Foley & Lardner LLP
Vanessa is a litigation partner with Foley & Lardner LLP and head of the firm's national Auto Team. Vanessa’s practice focuses on a wide array of supply chain disputes, including breach of contract and warranty claims, automotive supply chain issues and maintaining continuity of supply, and international arbitrations. Vanessa also regularly publishes and presents regarding supply chain issues and global supply contracts, including her recent executive handbook: The Law of the Automotive and Manufacturing Supply Chain: a Handbook for Success.
John Turlais
Of Counsel
Foley & Lardner LLP
John is an Of Counsel in Foley's GEDI-International Practice Group, with a practice that focuses on helping multinational companies comply with anti-corruption and international trade laws and regulations, including customs, export controls, and economic sanctions.
Ishan Shah
Partner, Tax & Legal
BDO Thailand
Ishan has mor than 15 years of tax and corporate legal experience in India, Thailand, and Myanmar. He moved to Thailand in 2016 and has been advising multinational companies on their tax structures and planning. Ishan has worked with several listed companies in Thailand in developing transfer pricing policy and plan their value chain. He has assisted several companies securing business permits in Thailand (such as Board of Investment license, foreign business license, and treasury center license.)