NEW KNIGHT: Tos Chirathivat, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Central Group, has received the title of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy in a ceremony in Thailand.
One of the highest honors bestowed by the Italian Republic, the civilian distinction is awarded by the country’s president to Italians abroad or foreigners who promote friendship and cooperation between Italy and other nations and acknowledges outstanding contributions to cultural, economic or professional ties with Italy.
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Chirathivat is the fourth member of Central Group and the Chirathivat family to receive the honor, following Sudhitham, Yuwadee and Busaba Chirathivat, and reaffirming the firm’s long-standing relationship with the country.
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The Thailand-based retail, real estate and hospitality conglomerate is the parent company of Italian leading department store Rinascente, which it acquired in 2011. The group has supported Rinascente’s growth with multiple investments, including the opening of a unit on Rome’s Via del Tritone in 2017, the revamp of the Turin store in 2019 and, the following year, the unveiling of the updated second banner in Rome located on Piazza Fiume and the Florence unit near Piazza della Signoria.
Rinascente operates nine units in Italy, with the location in central Milan overlooking the Duomo cathedral still representing the crown jewel of its proposition. Central Group not only invested in renovation of the unit and in enhancing its offering and digital strategy, but also announced in 2024 that it had signed a long-term rental agreement for an adjacent, historic location, with plans to turn it into a beauty destination. Poised for completion by May 2027, the “Rinascente Odeon Beauty Hall” was supported by a 40 million euro investment.
Overall, under Chirathivat’s leadership, Central Group has strengthened its presence across all Europe by investing in some of its prime retail institutions. In addition to Rinascente, these include KaDeWe in Germany, Globus in Switzerland, Illum in Denmark and Selfridges Group. The latter comprises the namesake department store network in the U.K., De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, and Brown Thomas Arnotts in Ireland.
Earlier this month, the group beefed up its European leadership with promotions, including elevating Rinascente’s CEO Pierluigi Cocchini to the newly created position of CEO, Europe. In tandem, Giuseppe D’Amato, most recently Rinascente’s buying and merchandising director, was promoted to chief commercial officer Europe, succeeding Chart Chirathivat, who was named chief strategy officer Europe. Mariella Elia’s role as managing director at Rinascente was also expanded to that of European finance coordinator. Elia will also lead Rinascente as Central Group will not replace Cocchini’s CEO position at the department store chain.