Athistha Chitranukroh (left) has exited AIG Thailand to join Tilleke & Gibbins’ insurance practice in Bangkok. Chitranukroh explains that her departure from the US multinational, where she was as senior vice president – general counsel was risky. “Moving in the opposite direction – from general counsel into private practice – is not as common, especially in Thailand,” says Chitranukroh. “When this opportunity came up, it was a major career decision.”
 
Chitranukroh began her career in private practice before joining AIG. She insists that her experience not only in insurance but also commercial and corporate issues will provide clients of Tilleke & Gibbins, a Southeast Asia regional law firm, with a distinct perspective. In addition to her insurance expertise, she will counsel domestic and global clients on regulatory compliance, market entry, policy drafting and commercial agreements. As a member of Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional corporate and commercial team, she will advise multinational corporations on corporate restructuring, M&A and other strategic transactions.
 
Chitranukroh joins Tilleke & Gibbins while Thailand’s insurance industry undergoes regulatory changes. She expects the Office of Insurance Commission to focus on targeted deregulation and liberalisation of foreign restrictions, combined with enhanced enforcement of corporate governance and risk management rules. “This could create a new era for the insurance industry,” says Chitranukroh.