Premchai Karnasuta: Biography, Career, and Business Insights

Premchai Karnasuta’s Profile Summary

Company	Italian-Thai Development
Position	President and Chief Executive Officer of Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (ITD), a major construction firm in Thailand. He has held this position since 1983
Source of wealth	Premchai Karnasuta's wealth primarily stems from his role as the President and major shareholder of Italian-Thai Development.
Also known as	Premchai Karnasuta is also known for his involvement in wildlife conservation controversies and his legal issues regarding poaching in Thailand.
Age	Unknown
Education	Colorado School of Mines – Undergraduate degree
Citizenship	Thailand
Residence	Bangkok, Thailand
Family	Premchai Karnasuta is married to Khanitta Karnasuta. He also has children who have been involved in the family business, including his son, Peeti Karnasuta.
Website, Social Media	https://www.itd.co.th/

Premchai Karnasuta’s biography

Premchai Karnasuta was born into a prominent Thai family with a strong background in the construction industry. His father, Chaijudh Karnasuta, co-founded Italian-Thai Development in 1958. Premchai holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and has been involved in managing the family business since the 1980s. Under his leadership, ITD expanded its portfolio to include large infrastructure projects, such as the construction of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and various transportation networks across Southeast Asia. Beyond his business career, Premchai's reputation was marred by legal issues, including his conviction for wildlife poaching in a Thai national park, which brought significant public scrutiny to his leadership role. Despite these controversies, he continues to be a major figure in Thailand’s construction sector

How did Premchai Karnasuta make money?

Premchai Karnasuta makes money in the following areas:

Premchai Karnasuta's wealth primarily stems from his role as the President and major shareholder of Italian-Thai Development.
What is Premchai Karnasuta net worth?

As of 2025, there is no publicly available and reliable information regarding Premchai Karnasuta’s net worth.

What is Premchai Karnasuta also known as?

Beyond his business career as President and CEO of Italian-Thai Development, Premchai Karnasuta became notorious for his conviction in a wildlife poaching case in 2018. He was involved in the illegal hunting of a black panther and other protected species in a Thai national park, which caused widespread public outrage and drew attention to the accountability of the wealthy elite in Thailand. The case concluded with a prison sentence for Premchai, marking a rare instance of a prominent tycoon facing legal repercussions for environmental crimes. This event significantly impacted his public image and highlighted the broader issues of wildlife protection in Thailand

Prominent achievements of Premchai Karnasuta

Premchai has led Italian-Thai Development to become one of Thailand’s largest construction companies, with major projects like Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the Bangkok Metro. However, his career faced a major setback due to his conviction in a high-profile poaching case, which also led to his removal from the list of Thailand's 50 richest people in 2021

What are Premchai Karnasuta’s key insights?

Premchai Karnasuta's business approach has been characterized by a focus on large-scale infrastructure projects that contribute to national development, such as airports and transportation systems. Despite his business success, his leadership faced significant criticism due to his involvement in illegal activities, which led to public outcry over the perceived privilege of the wealthy. This experience highlights a disconnect between his public role as a business leader and his personal actions.

Premchai Karnasuta’s personal life

Premchai's wife, Khanitta Karnasuta, has been publicly involved in legal issues concerning the illegal possession of African ivory found in their home. His son, Peeti Karnasuta, holds a senior executive role within the family’s company, Italian-Thai Development. The Karnasuta family has long been influential in Thailand's construction industry, with Premchai taking over leadership from his father

Useful insights

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