2013 Board of Governors
Matt Bradley
President
Matt Bradley is the president of Ford ASEAN, overseeing Ford Motor Company’s operations in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and Philippines. Ford’s ASEAN headquarters, which are part of its Asia Pacific and Africa region, are based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ford has two manufacturing facilities in Thailand (Auto Alliance Thailand, a joint venture; and Ford Thailand Manufacturing), as well as a manufacturing facility in Vietnam. Ford is bringing eight new vehicles to ASEAN by mid-decade, as part of its aggressive expansion in Asia Pacific and Africa.
Bradley was formerly Vice President, Sales, Service and Distribution, for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, based in Shanghai, China, a position he held for almost two years.
Bradley has been with Ford for twenty-three years in roles of increasing responsibility in marketing, strategy, sales and service, including positions in Ford, Lincoln Mercury, and Ford Customer Service Division.
He has lived and worked in Shanghai, Detroit, Boston, New York and Memphis. Bradley is a native of Boston and received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Boston College in 1988.
He and his wife Jennifer have three sons, Ryan, Kevin, and Sean.
John Atanas
Vice President
John Atanas is Chairman and Managing Director of Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited and ExxonMobil Limited. John has worked for affiliates of Exxon Mobil Corporation in a number of managerial positions, including in the U.S., Singapore, and Australia.
He was the Treasurer of ExxonMobil Exploration Company in Houston before his most recent move to Bangkok in August 2011. John joined ExxonMobil after receiving his BA in Chemistry from Colgate University and his MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.
John and his wife, Katya, have two boys, Adam and Matthew.
Pierre Breber
Vice President
Pierre Breber is Managing Director of the Asia South Business Unit for Chevron Corporation, which is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. As Managing Director, Pierre is responsible for upstream operations in six countries:Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Pierre joined Chevron in 1989 and has worked in a number of finance, commercial and leadership roles. Prior to his current assignment, Pierre was Deputy Managing Director in Bangkok. Before arriving in Thailand, Pierre served as Chevron Vice President and Treasurer of Chevron Corporation.
Pierre earned a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from Cornell University. He is married with three children.
Darren Buckley
Vice President
Darren Buckley is the Country Head and Citi Country Officer for Citibank in Thailand. Darren is also on the Board of Directors of the Thai-based Association of International Banks.
Darren came to Thailand in March 2012, following eight years in Tokyo where he was Citi’s Japan CEO. While in Japan, Darren was an active supporter of AMCHAM Japan and served on the boards of the International Bankers Association, the Nippon Keizaidantai Rengoukai, the National Institute on Consumer Education and the Yokohama International School.
Darren began his career with PwC in the UK and joined Citi in London in 1992. After assignments in Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as four years in New York, Darren moved to Singapore in 1999 where he held senior Asia regional management responsibilities before moving to Tokyo in 2004.
Darren has a BSc in Business Finance and Economics from the UK, is a UK Chartered Accountant, and an honorary Professor at China’s Dalian University of Foreign Languages and at Harbin University.
David Nardone
Vice President
David Nardone is the President and Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director of Hemaraj Land and Development Public Company Limited.
Hemaraj is Thailand’s leading developer of industrial estates, utilities, power, and property solutions. Industrial customers include 784 land or factory contracts, 600,000 square meters of ready built factories and logistics warehouses, 274 automotive contracts including GM and Ford, with an industrial customer investment estimate of $25 billion.
Prior to joining Hemaraj in 1993, David held senior financial and manufacturing management positions over 14 years in the computer industry while residing in the U.S., Thailand, and Hong Kong.
He completed a BSBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship and a MBA from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, . USA.
David contributes to various economic forums and media. He has written articles on the automotive industry, manufacturing, the investment climate and industrial competitiveness.
He was a recent Governor and Vice President at the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand from 2008 to 2011, and previously from 2001-2004. His other AMCHAM committments include: Vice Chairman of the AMCHAM Automotive Council; and Co-Chairman of the new AMCHAM Eastern Seaboard Committee.
Interests include tennis, jazz, wine and the Boston Red Sox.
Janice Van Ekeren
Treasurer
Jan attended Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Administration with a concentration in Accounting in 1981. Since that time Jan has gained extensive experience in auditing, corporate planning, acquisitions and financial reporting in her various senior appointments in Coopers & Lybrand, McGraw-Edison & Co and Household International in both the U.S. and the UK. Jan received her MBA from the University of Chicago and also holds U.S. Certified Public Accountant and U.S. Certified Bank Auditor certificates.
In 1995, Jan joined GE Capital European Equipment Finance in London as head of European Financial Planning & Analysis. She moved to the GE Auto Financial Services business in Singapore in 1997 and was named Controller for GE Capital Asia Pacific in 1998. Jan was promoted to Chief Financial Officer for GE Capital Asia Pacific based in Hong Kong in mid-2000 and later CFO for GE Consumer Finance Asia.
Before joining Bank of Ayudhya as the Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director in January 2007, Jan was Global Operations Controller for GE Money based in Stamford, Connecticut. Jan is married with three children, ages 17, 15 and 14.
Jane Puranananda
Secretary
Jane Puranananda, the General Manager of Dej-Udom & Associates law firm, has lived in Asia for 30 years. She previously worked as a journalist and an editor in Singapore and Hong Kong before moving to Thailand in 1990, and joining Dej-Udom & Associates a year later. Her role in the law firm is primarily cross-cultural, assisting Thai lawyers to communicate with foreign clients and helping foreign clients understand the Thai legal system. Over the years she has organized a number of international law conferences and has represented the firm at various Thai and international meetings and associations.
Jane has been active in AMCHAM for 20 years and until recently was the Co-Chair of the AMCHAM Professional Women Committee. She describes herself as a “second generation expat”.
After growing up in Boston, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Brussels, she moved overseas a second time with her husband and children in 1983. She holds a degree in history from Barnard College, Columbia University and actively pursues her interest in Southeast Asia art and culture by serving as a consultant to The James H. W. Thompson Foundation.
Martin Apfel
Governor
Martin Apfel has served as President of General Motors (GM) South East Asia Operations since March 2010. He oversees GM’s business in 18 markets, including ASEAN, Japan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
Apfel began his GM career with Adam Opel AG in 1989. In 1992, he became Manager and later Director of Industrial Relations and Benefits for GM Europe at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1995, Apfel moved to Opel Belgium NV as Personnel Director and a member of the company’s Board. Apfel was named President of the Board and Managing Director of Opel Portugal SA (later Unipessoal Lda.) in 1998. In 2002, Apfel was appointed President of Opel Eisenach GmbH, an Opel manufacturing facility in Germany. From 2004 to 2005, Apfel was Director of Opel’s Bochum Plants in Germany. Prior to his current assignment, Apfel served as GM’s Executive Director of Global Manufacturing Strategy and Planning. He was also a member of GM’s Global Manufacturing Strategy Team, Global Product Planning Leadership Team and Global Product Development Council.
Outside of GM, Apfel has years of community service, including: serving on the Board of the Portuguese AmCham and the EU AmCham; Advisory Council to the Portuguese Minister of the Economy; member of the Belgian Metal Employers Federation; member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden; and an active Member of the US-ASEAN Business Council.
Before joining GM, Apfel held various academic and social leadership functions at local, state, national German and European level. Apfel holds a Law Degree from the University of Frankfurt, Germany
Michael Diamente
Governor
Michael Diamente is Managing Director of Dana Spicer (Thailand). Michael joined Dana Spicer in 1972, first in Fort Wayne, Indiana and then in Toledo, Ohio. At AMCHAM, Michael plays an active role in the Auto Council and Manufacturing Committees.
Michael was born in Italy in 1953 and immigrated to U.S. when he was 13 in 1966. In 1973, Michael married Rosanne Watters. Michael and Rosanne have four children and seven grandchildren and they have long been actively involved in community service organizations.
Pornlert Lattanan
Governor
Pornlert Lattanan joined GE in June 2002 as General Manager for Business Development and, a year after, was appointed as President and National Executive, Thailand and Laos PDR. In February 2011 he was promoted to be the President and CEO for GE in Thailand and Laos.
Prior to GE, he held the top management position at the oldest local English newspaper and, before that, enjoyed a long career in the financial sector, which included an 11-year assignment for a Thai bank in England and Germany. He had served as a member of the Board of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the Association of Securities Companies of Thailand, the Sub-Committee for Financial Business of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Chairman of Financial Management Group and member of the Board of the Thai Management Association (TMA), AMCHAM Governor (2004-2007) and AMCHAM Vice President (2006).
He is currently a Fellow Member of the Thai Institute of Directors and an Executive Committee Member of the Columbia Alumni Club of Thailand.
Khun Pornlert earned his BS in Engineering and LLM 1st class Honour from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, MBA in Finance and Marketing from Columbia, and attended an executive program at Harvard Business School. He is also admitted to Thai Bar Association with a license to practice law in Thai court. Recently, he has completed a certificate program on civil society building at King Prachadhipok Institute.
David Lyman
Governor
David Lyman is a graduate of Duke University (BSEE, 1958) and Hastings College of the Law (JD,1965). He joined Tilleke & Gibbins in 1967 after a career in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, became a senior partner in 1984, and is currently the Chairman & Chief Values Officer.
He has not only distinguished himself in the law practice, but has also become one of Thailand’s best-known American residents through his activities and services to the Thai government and to the Thai and foreign business and social communities. His many awards include a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Commerce (1987), Distinguished Service Award from the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (1990) and a Certificate of Achievement from the Prime Minister of Thailand as Chairman of the Board of Investment (1990, 1992).
Mr. Lyman was a founder and executive board member of Lex Mundi in 1989 and an 18-year member and a Program Fellow of the World Economic Forum, is a member of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the ICC Paris, founder and board member of the Thailand Chapter of the ICC, and a member of the Environment Law Commission of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Since 2003 he has been on the Advisory Board of the International Crisis Group, Brussels. He was voted “Boss of the Year” by the Women Secretaries’ Association of Thailand in 1997. He is listed in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in the Asia-Pacific. In 2006, Mr. Lyman was awarded a Plaque of Appreciation by AMCHAM for 50 years of service and for the support provided by Tilleke & Gibbins to AMCHAM.
Mr. Lyman’s experience encompasses many areas of the law including commercial, corporate, investment, and intellectual property. He has written many articles and spoken on various topics including foreign direct investment, environment and sustainable development, corruption, money laundering and corporate governance. His latest published work is Lyman’s Laws for Lawyers (and Everybody Else, Too!).
Jeff Nygaard
Governor
Jeffrey Nygaard is Vice President and Country Manager for Seagate Technology in Thailand and Penang. Jeff has overall responsibility for Seagate’s operations in Samut Prakarn and Korat (Thailand) and Penang (Malaysia). He also has operational responsibility for Seagate’s Wuxi (China) head operations.
Jeff joined Seagate in 1994. He has worked in research, development, design and operations, spanning various facilities including Thailand. He has held a variety of managerial and executive positions in the United States and throughout Asia. In 2004, he was promoted to Vice President of Product Launch and Process Development for Seagate’s desktop and notebook market segments.
In August 2006, he returned to Thailand as the Vice President and Country Manager for Thailand operations, including Asia-wide engineering. In June 2009, his role was expanded to include Penang Operations.
Jeff earned Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, with emphasis in control system design. He also completed executive education at Harvard Business School.
Jeff and his wife Chanita have two sons, Jeremy and Joel. They live in Samut Prakarn. Jeff is an avid tennis player and enjoys U.S. history. The bulk of his free time is spent with his family, as he believes in work-life balance.
Milind Pant
Governor
Milind was appointed as Managing Director since 1st October, 2009. Prior to moving to Thailand, the role was CMO- Indian subcontinent based at New Delhi from March 2009 until September 2010.
Overall Milind has almost 20 years of professional experience working with global companies. He worked for Unilever for over 15 years- across geographies and functions. Prior roles include VP Marketing-Savory Category for Africa Middle East Turkey, GM- East India and Marketing Director India-Ice Creams.
In 2009, Milind was chosen as one of the best executives (under 40 years) by a leading Indian Business Magazine. He has been a regular panelist in industry forums across India.
Milind has Masters in International Business from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and Master of Management Studies from Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, India.
Dee Richmond
Governor
Dee Richmond has spent most of her career in Southeast Asia. She grew up in central Kansas and received a B.S. in Business Administration from Kansas State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University.
She worked for the Foreign Agricultural Service in Washington D.C. as an Agricultural Economist, before being posted to the U.S. Embassy, Singapore, as the Assistant Agricultural Trade Officer. She accepted a position at the National University of Singapore, where she served on the Faculty of Business Administration and taught marketing in the undergraduate and MBA programs.
She then set up her own food marketing consulting business in Singapore, D. Richmond and Associates Pte Ltd, which represented a number of key U.S. food trade associations throughout Southeast Asia, including the Food Marketing Institute. She sold her business to accept the position of Deputy Director, Food Export USANortheast in Philadelphia, a non-profit organization that assists small companies located in the northeastern U.S. to export food products.
She returned to Asia and is the General Manager of AgriSource Co. Ltd, a food and agricultural consulting firm that has been based in Bangkok for more than 20 years.
Douglas Harter de Weese
Governor
Doug is the founder and Managing Director of two companies in Thailand: Vektor Telematics, a provider of GPS tracking for commercial vehicle fleets; and Pacific Medical, an importer and distributor of high-end dental and orthodontic brands from America, Asia and Europe.
Doug moved to Bangkok in 2002 after a successful eight year career in advertising and technology in the San Francisco Bay area, including experience at McCann-Erickson San Francisco, where he created print, radio and digital advertising for Microsoft and Charles Schwab.
For the past several years Doug has served as co-chair for AMCHAM’s Transportation and Logistics Committee and the chair of the annual Independence Day Picnic Committee.