The CEO of KCE Electronics, the world’s fifth largest producer of custom-printed circuit boards, 39-year-old Pitharn followed in the footsteps of his father Bancha, who founded the company in 1982, and earned a degree in computer and electrical engineering from the University of California before pursuing an MBA from Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. Keen to boost the country’s potential in innovation and technology and understanding the importance of knowledge exchange, under his leadership KCE Electronics has collaborated with leading experts in research and technology from Europe and the United States. Having implemented robotic manufacturing at KCE two years ago, he continually strives to push the business forward with new cutting edge-technologies. Being a good team-leader and ensuring a good work relationship he says, boils down to one’s ability to be a good listener who tries to see and understand things from the employee’s perspective. A dynamo at work, Pitharn also heads local the operations of Korean beauty and skin care company The Face Shop Thailand and the MOS Burger business from Japan.