Get Together # 74 Mathias Greger *** A brief history of DKSH in Thailand ***

1877:    Wilhelm Heinrich Diethelm becomes a full partner in Hooglandt & Co, buying 35% of the  shares with help of his mentor, J. R.  Riedtmann

1884:    W. H. Diethelm becomes Vice Consul of Russia. Later: Consul of Denmark. Diethelm Singapore acts as diplomatic representations for Austria and Argentina

1885:    Contract is signed between C. Lutz and Keller that passes the business to Keller – Ed. A. Keller & Co. (Switzerland and the Philippines). Name change in 1887

1886:    W. H. Diethelm returns to Switzerland. Founded W.H. Diethelm in Zurich  (general agent for Hooglandt in Singapore)

1906:    Diethelm becomes an AG, to fund expansion. Diethelm appoints professional managers; remains chairman till his death in 1932.

 

Opening Diethelm & Co. in Bangkok

 

1908:    Keller becomes an AG. Ed. A Keller dies, leaving 8 children. W.H. Diethelm becomes representative of Keller’s children, who are still very young

1911:    Willy Diethelm (son of W.H.D.) dies in Bangkok of Cholera at the age of 27 1914:    Wilhelm Max (Willy) Keller (1883-1955) marries Anna Diethelm, daughter of W.H.D. Their son E. Luk Keller (1915-1994) will become father of Andreas W. Keller  

1921:   Willy M. Keller (son-in-law of W.H.D.) appointed vice-chairman of Diethelm & Co. Ltd. 1931:    Diethelm & Co., Ltd. is granted permission by Royal Warrant to display the royal Garuda emblem, the official seal of the Royal Household of Thailand. During the WW II – Supporting the Red Cross Following WWII, Thailand office one of very few international trading houses still operational (importance of American agencies)  

1950s: Building of comprehensive network of branch offices and thus, distribution system throughout Thailand (including Haadyai, Chang Mai and Khon Kaen, etc.)  1950s:  Motoring department strongest. All BKK taxis (= Austins) sold by Diethelm. Also: Goodyear tyres and Oldham batteries)  

1955:    Bangkok benefits from closure of Saigon office for political  and economical reasons 1956:   Rama IX visits the Diethelm pavilion at international trade fair in Bangkok     

(50th anniversary of Diethelm)

 

1957:    Diethelm & Co. Ltd. becomes Swissair agent in Bangkok  (new route ZRH – BKK – Tokyo)

1958:    Setup of Diethelm Travel Bangkok  

1960s: Food department strongest (Dr. A. Wander = Ovaltine All expats had to learn Thai. Employment contracts forbade expats to marry local women  

1970s: Indochina wars: foreign investments to prevent communism. Pragmatic Thai foreign policy, Thai modernization process

1972:    Diethelm sole distributor of Nestle products in Thailand  

1984:    Termination of Nestle agency. Representing Levi’s  

1990s: Construction of Diethelm Towers at Wireless Rd.

2002:     Merger between SiberHegner Holding Ltd. and Diethelm Keller Services Asia into DKSH Ltd. (June 19th) Generating CHF 4.7 bn turnover with 14,600 staff in 30 countries “ A fusion of muscles and brain.”

2012:     DKSH Holding Ltd. goes public at the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX)

2015:    DKSH celebrates 150th anniversary

2017:    Stefan P. Butz new DKSH's CEO  Former CEO, Dr. Joerg Wolle, replaces Adrian T. Keller as Chairman of the Board of Directors

2019:     Joerg Wolle resigns his position as Chairman, leaving DKSH Adrian T. Keller returns as Chairman Marco Gadola designated to become Chairman in 2020  

 

Source:   “The Fantree Company” Written by: Friedemann Bartu, Zurich Published by:    Diethelm Keller Holding LTD. (DKH) 2005  

 

Mathias Greger hands over one of these books to Christian Brunner who will gladly make it available to interested members.

Christian  thanked for the interesting lecture and handed over a Vaucher sponsored by Linus Knobel for the Brasserie 9 to Mathias Greger.

Many thanks to all participants and also to the whole Chesa team who spoiled us with an excellent menu.