The Bangkok Post reported Post Publishing, its parent company, will be producing Forbes Thailand in June 2013, with a target circulation of 100k copies per month, reports Christel Lee from PrintWorld Asia. Supakorn Vejjajiva, the chief operating officer of Post Publishing was quoted as saying.
He added the new title will appeal to middle-managers, entrepreneurs and thought leaders seeking insights into the local and global business environment. Post Publishing, through its subsidiary Post International Media, is the country's leading magazine publisher in terms of revenues through women's fashion titles such as Elle and Marie Claire as well as lifestyle magazines such as Elle Decor.
Mr Supakorn said Forbes Thailand represents the company's expansion into the men's magazine market, with a focus on business strategy, fashion, gadgets, cars and investment. The company will also launch Fast Bikes Thailand and Cycling Plus Thailand over the next several months.
Krisda Sawamiphakdi will serve as chief executive officer of Forbes Thailand. Mr Krisda is a long-time veteran of the Thai capital market and most recently served as senior executive vice-president of Asia Plus Securities.
"Our market includes top-tier management, leading bankers, listed company executives ... It's basically aimed at the entire 'C-suite'," he said, referring to CEOs, CIOs and CFOs.
Nopporn Wonganan, a veteran journalist with experience at the Bangkok Post, The Asian Wall Street Journal and Reuters, is appointed editor-in-chief of Forbes Thailand. Mr Krisda said the initial print run of 100,000 copies aims to have 50% come from annual subscribers. The first issue will be launched on June 15.
"Forbes Thailand will be the direct advertising medium to reach Thailand's high-level corporate executives and business owners who have the highest purchasing income and the most sophisticated appetite for premium brands and financial services," he said.
"Banking and financial services, luxury brands, high-end automobiles, real estate and international advertisers will be the key advertising clients of Forbes Thailand."
Mr Supakorn said the Thai edition's circulation of 100,000 would be the second largest for the magazine in Asia, after Forbes China. Forbes currently has a circulation of 370,000 in the region, with a 21% market share of regional ad spending in international business or news publications last year, according to Kantar Media, ahead of The Wall Street Journal, the International Herald Tribune and The Economist.
