Andrew Mcdowell

Andrew re-joined Vinarco as our Group Managing Director in January 2015 after a 7-year gap. Earlier, he had spent several years as our Chief Operating Officer. He is directly in control of Information Technology and also the Communications infrastructure business known as Vinarco ICT, while overseeing all other Group activities.

Andrew is a very experienced senior executive having managed international companies at country and regional level in several Asian markets. He spent the first 30 years of his career in the large German multinational, Hoechst AG, where he rose to senior management and regional positions in Thailand, Malaysia and Japan. His years climbing the corporate ladder enabled him to accumulate expertise in Sales & Marketing, Information Technology, Controlling, Accounting and Finance, Management Accounting, Production Management and General Management. Thanks to his years of senior management, Andrew also has had great exposure in dealing with the various stakeholders in many types of businesses, he has developed strong skills in relationship management, negotiating with both internal and external parties, and managing their expectations.

Andrew has been responsible for a complete 5-year overhaul of our organisation, streamlining our business processes and structuring us for future growth. He is also fully committed to building our human capital: making sure that we recruit quality talent; that we invest in developing our people; that we genuinely empower them; and that we hold them properly accountable for their business results. Under his steady hand, a strong, stable and dedicated leadership team has emerged and is driving us forward.

Andrew is a New Zealander (and since 2007 also a Thai National), and besides English he also speaks fluent German and Thai. As a long-term resident of Thailand (and now a Thai citizen), Andrew is a strong supporter of Thailand’s ambitious plans for its Eastern Economic Corridor, following on from the impressive 30-year development of the Eastern Sea-Board. Consequently, he is guiding Vinarco in expanding our activities in the EEC. Likewise, Andrew has a keen personal interest in IT: this has also benefited Vinarco professionally, as Andrew runs our Internal IT function, as well as overseeing our ICT Division.

He is a keen rugby fan, a former player, and naturally he supports the All Blacks.