Chalerm Yoovidhya (72) is the Thai billionaire who will decide his successor after the death of Dietrich “Didi” Mateschitz (78 years old), the new strongman at Red Bull. And so on about the future of the Red Bull Group.
Because with the death of the Austrian, the industrialist family Yoovidhya does not only have a majority share in the can group (51 percent). But now the majority of the vote – 51 percent. Mateschitz has so far owned, but only 49 percent of the shares in Red Bull GmbH.
Mateschitz’s special status drops
He secured this special status when he bought the international rights to the energy drink “Red Bull” in 1984. However, it cannot inherit this particular location. Meaning: From now on, the Thais have a say in Red Bull.
Experts assume that structures and administrators are safe for now. Red Bull’s business, which employs 13,000 people worldwide, should continue as normal for now. Red Bull veterans Rudolf Theierl (72), who operate predominantly in the sports industry, and Roland Concin (70), responsible for production, logistics and purchasing, should be temporary solutions at best. You are well past retirement age.
Mateschitz’s son in the race
So the question is whether an outsider will take over. Or an executive from the Yoovidhya company. Or Mark Mateschitz (29), son of the founder of Red Bull. It is said to have the best connections in Thailand. He has never had a senior job at Red Bull. But his father prepared him for his successor. And he has experience in the beverage business. He was last at the head of the Austrian Thalheimer beer.
The most obvious solution – Vorayuth (40) son of Chalerm Yoovidhya – should not be. He killed a police officer in a Ferrari in 2012 in Bangkok for fleeing from the police. There is still a lawsuit against billionaire heirs for cocaine use.