17 Facts About Pridiyathorn Devakula

Mom Rajawongse Pridiyathorn Devakula is a Thai economist.

Pridiyathorn Devakula was the Governor of the Bank of Thailand from 2001 to 2006.

Pridiyathorn Devakula is therefore a grandson of Prince Devawongse Varopakarn, and a great-grandson of King Rama IV.

Pridiyathorn Devakula studied economics at Thammasat University, graduating with a bachelor's degree, and at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned an MBA in 1970.

Pridiyathorn Devakula was appointed a member of the Thai Senate from 1992 to 1993.

Pridiyathorn Devakula served as the Chairman of the NIST International School Foundation, the governing body of NIST International School, from 2009 to 2017.

Pridiyathorn Devakula is a director of the Civil Service Commission and of the Thammasat University Council.

Pridiyathorn Devakula repeatedly criticised Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who took office in 2001.

Pridiyathorn Devakula disagreed with Thaksin's spending policy, which he saw as a cause of inflation.

Pridiyathorn Devakula threatened to fire KTB chief executive officer Viroj Nualkhair if he did not resign.

Pridiyathorn Devakula was notably endorsed by Chatri Sophonpanich, chairman of Bangkok Bank.

Pridiyathorn Devakula was succeeded as governor of the Bank of Thailand by Tarisa Watanagase, the first woman to head the BOT.

Pridiyathorn Devakula's resignation shocked the political world as well as the business community.

The Bangkok Post reported that Pridiyathorn Devakula resigned in protest after a CNS member lobbied him to sell shares of IRPC back to a former shareholder.

Pridiyathorn Devakula was an outspoken critic of Yingluck Shinawatra's government, especially its scheme assuring a fixed minimum rice price to farmers.

Disclosures to the National Counter Corruption Commission revealed that 30 days after leaving his cabinet position in March 2007, Pridiyathorn Devakula had 730 million baht in assets, a slight drop from 754 million baht when he took office in October 2006.

Pridiyathorn Devakula was the wealthiest with assets of 1.38 billion baht.