Jermsak Pinthong, a former Bangkok senator and a well-known academic, has been appointed chairman of the board of governors of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS).

Jermsak, 70, succeeds Joompol Rodcumdee whose term as board member has ended.

Jermsak is a former senator of Bangkok and an advocate of grass-root social development and public participation. He is also a well-known academic and TV news host.

He is among five new members of the board of governors of Thai PBS, Thailand’s national public broadcaster. The other four are Dr. Anusorn Tamajai, director of Economic Research Center, Rangsit University, Dr. Anond Snidvongs, former executive director of Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, Boonlert Kachayutthadej,  a freelance journalist and former member of the National Reform Council, and Usasinee Rewthong, programme manager of Voluntary Service Overseas.

Jermsak was voted chairman at a meeting of the nine-member board of governors on Wednesday.

According to the charter governing Thai PBS, its board of governors is the policy-making body responsible for setting strategic directions of the organization and overseeing its operations.  The board is elected through an independent process and serves a four-year term.  The board comprises people with expertise and backgrounds in the media, management, community development, children and family welfare.

Thai PBS was founded in 2008 and is funded as the country’s first independent public broadcaster with tax revenue from tobacco and alcohol.