IN MEMORIAM

Paron Israsena Na Ayudhya – Former Director, Sasin School of Management Former CEO, Siam Cement Group Sasin School of Management mourns the passing of Paron Israsena Na Ayudhya, who served as Director of Sasin from June 2017 until his retirement in 2019. He was 98. A visionary leader, accomplished industrialist, and passionate education reformer, Khun Paron’s legacy will continue to inspire generations of business leaders and educators throughout Thailand and beyond.  

A Distinguished Business Career

Born into a family with royal lineage and a long tradition of public service, Khun Paron earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering from Chulalongkorn University before completing his master’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His illustrious business career spanned leadership roles at General Electric, Shell Thailand, and most notably, Siam Cement Group (SCG), where he spent 39 years, including eight years as Chief Executive Officer before retiring in 1992. Throughout his career, Khun Paron served on numerous boards of directors, including Chulalongkorn University, the National Economic and Social Development Board, Thailand’s Private Sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption Council, the National Competitiveness Development Committee, Charoen Pokphand Group, and Siam Kubota Corporation. He also served as Board Chairman of Thaicom Public Company Limited.  

A Champion of Educational Innovation

Following his retirement from SCG, Khun Paron devoted himself to transforming Thailand’s educational landscape. He cofounded the Suksaphattana Foundation in 1996 with fellow Thai MIT alumni and spearheaded the 1997 Lighthouse Project, which brought MIT Professor Emeritus Seymour Papert and Media Lab researchers to Thailand to introduce constructionist learning approaches. In 2000, Khun Paron founded the Darunsikkhalai School for Innovative Learning (DSIL), an educational institution that pioneered Thai Constructionist Learning and served as a model for project-based, student-centered education. His tireless advocacy for educational reform culminated in the 2013 cabinet-level approval of a national policy giving innovative schools more freedom—an initiative he had championed for 16 years. Khun Paron also served 13 years as a Thai senator and held the distinction of being the first private-sector chair of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board. He later served on Thailand’s National Reform Council as chair of its Education Reform and Human Resource Development Committee.  

Leadership at Sasin

When Khun Paron assumed the role of Director at Sasin School of Management in 2017, he brought decades of experience from serving on Sasin’s Advisory Board and Steering Committee. Under his leadership, Sasin continued to adapt its curriculum to meet the evolving demands of Thailand’s business sector while maintaining its commitment to combining international management excellence with local and regional values. As he once observed: “Sasin was founded more than three decades ago as a graduate school determined to optimize student capabilities and learning opportunities, encouraging the exchange of management knowledge while embracing Asian culture and ideas.”  

Legacy and Recognition

Throughout his remarkable life, Khun Paron received several national decorations and honorary degrees from eight universities. His contributions extended across multiple sectors—from industry and commerce to education and public policy—always guided by his commitment to Thailand’s development and his belief in the transformative power of education. The Sasin community remembers Khun Paron not only for his distinguished achievements but for his warmth, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders. His vision of education that embraces both innovation and Thai cultural values will continue to shape Sasin’s mission for years to come.