Last month Graham Macdonald, Managing Director of the MBMG Group, was elected as Chairman of the BCCT from incumbent Mark Devadason, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Thailand, who is being transferred to Hong Kong. Graham, a long time member of the BCCT, was has been Vice Chairman since 2005.

The MBMG Group is a diversified personal and corporate advisory practice, established in Thailand in 1994 and operating throughout Asia. The company  has over US$165 million of assets under management.

Mark Devadason said "I am very pleased to announce that Graham Macdonald will succeed me as Chairman of the BCCT. He has served the BCCT as a director for many years, and his vision and dedication as Vice Chairman, and fellow Board Member have played a key role in positioning us strongly for the future".

Patrick Pitcher Chairman of MBMG said “All of us are delighted at Graham’s appointment as Chairman of BCCT. It is just reward for the effort that Graham puts into serving the Thailand community, in addition to his full time role as Managing Director of MBMG and running the Pattaya office, the largest Personal Advisory practice on the Eastern Seaboard.”

Graham, who was born in Birmingham, has lived in Thailand for 16 years, and was a co-founder of MBMG in 1995. He opened the Pattaya office later that year. Graham is also chairman of the BCCT Eastern Seaboard and chairman of the BCCT Charity Group. He is well known for his active support of Charities.

Care for Kids where Graham has been directly responsible for raising tens of millions of Baht for the benefit of underprivileged children.

The Royal British Legion Thailand  which is the UK’s leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to the millions who have served or who are serving in the armed forces and their dependents. Graham is President of the Thailand branch and has been directly responsible for helping to raise funds for veterans based in Thailand.

World of Wine. Graham is Vice Chairman of this company which gives all profits to charitable causes both on the Eastern Seaboard and throughout Thailand.

Graham writes regular articles for The Thailand Tatler, Pattaya Mail, Chiang Mai Mail, Pattaya Today and Director Magazine. In 2005, he was nominated for the Lorenzo Natali Prize for journalism, a European community prize for excellence in reporting on human rights and democracy in the developing world.

An avid lover of sport, he recently toured with the British Lions in South Africa, and lives in Pattaya  with his lovely wife Jay. He is involved with the  Panthers Rugby Club on the Eastern Seaboard, and also enjoys History, Literature, Classical Music, Travel and Movies.

Graham said, "It is a great honour to become Chairman of the BCCT although I do feel a bit like Mr. Chips. Needless to say, I will strive to look after the members as best as I can for the rest of the year and I do not forget that the Board is there to serve the membership at all times".