William Heinecke

William Ellwood Heinecke (; born 1949) is an American-born Thai businessman. He is the Founder & Chairman of Minor International PCL. Minor International includes Minor Hotels, Minor Food Group and Minor Lifestyle. He is the CEO and Chairman of Minor Corporation, the CEO and Chairman of Minor International, and Chairman of Minor Food Group.
Biography.
Heinecke moved to Bangkok in 1963 at age 14 with his family, having previously lived in Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Heinecke's father spent 25 years in the United States military, serving in World War II and the Korean War. When he retired, he joined the foreign service. His mother was an Asia correspondent for "Time" magazine. Heinecke studied at the International School Bangkok, and persuaded the editor of the now defunct Bangkok World to let him write a weekly column on go-carting. In return, he received advertising space alongside it.
At age 17, while still a high school student, Heinecke took over from the Bangkok World's advertising manager. One year later, he founded Inter-Asian Enterprise, to supply office cleaning services, and Inter-Asian Publicity, a radio advertising company, using US$1,200 he had borrowed. He later sold Inter-Asia Publicity to Ogilvy & Mather. In 1967, he founded Minor Holdings, which would over the next four decades would grow into The Minor Group, including more than 30 companies.
Heinecke had his first hotel venture in 1978, the Royal Garden Resort in Pattaya. His business ventures have included advertising agencies and other hotels in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai as well as outside of Thailand. He also introduced American-style fast foods to Thailand in the late 1970s and 1980s – brands like Mister Donut, The Pizza Company and Burger King. Heinecke naturalized as a Thai citizen in 1991, renouncing United States citizenship in the process. He was the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and sat on the Prime Minister’s Foreign Investment Advisory Council. He is a supporter of the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, and authored "The Entrepreneur", which has been translated into a number of languages.
Minor International.
Minor International (MINT) is a global company focused on three core businesses: hospitality, restaurants and lifestyle brands distribution. MINT is a hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of 536 hotels under the Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH Hotels, nhow, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International brands in 55 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, South and North America. MINT is also one of Asia’s largest restaurant companies with over 2,200 outlets system-wide in 26 countries under The Pizza Company, The Coffee Club, Riverside, Benihana, Thai Express, Bonchon, Swensen’s, Sizzler, Dairy Queen and Burger King brands. MINT is one of Thailand’s largest distributors of lifestyle brands and contract manufacturers. Its brands include Anello, Bodum, Bossini, Brooks Brothers, Charles & Keith, Esprit, Etam, Joseph Joseph, OVS, Radley, Scomadi, Zwilling J.A. Henckels and Minor Smart Kids.
Awards.
In 2013, Heinecke received the ABLF Trailblazer Award from the Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF) Awards held in Dubai, UAE managed by Indian Expressions.
Philanthropy.
Heinecke's has been involved in The St. Regis Bangkok Charity Gala & Auction held on an annual basis contributing to raise funds for nominated organisations under Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.