Senior marketer quits Thai Pepsi bottler for GDA

Serm Suk executives said Suiti's departure - after 19 years with the company - was not caused by any conflicts, although they expressed concern at finding a replacement of his calibre to handle marketing for the 10 billion baht (US$2.3 billion) a year business.

But one Serm Suk executive, who asked not to be named, stressed it was business as usual. "This is a huge company. It doesn't depend on one employee," the source said. Parinya Permpanich, currently Serm Suk's sales operation director, will temporarily fill in for Suiti, dubbed the right hand man of the company's chief executive Somchai Bulsook. "She (Parinya) has experience working in the same section as Suiti and has worked at Serm Suk for 20 years, so that guarantees her suitability as the substitution," the executive said. Serm Suk had known Suiti intended to leave the company, giving it time to prepare, for his departure, executive added.

The soft drinks business in Thailand is in a state of transition due to the rise in popularity of fruit juices such as Coca-Cola's newly-launched Qoo and health beverages.