CHABAPORN WENZEL

Experienced Global Leader in Legal & Government Affairs, Automotive Policies, and International Trade Compliance

As a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in legal and government affairs, complex regulatory landscapes across various functions and divisions have been successfully navigated. The track record spans global, regional, and local operations, where government policies, legal transformations, and trade dynamics have been strategically harnessed to achieve market entry and drive profitability.

Key Highlights:

Policy Expertise: Proficiently facilitated a multinational corporation in leveraging government policies, export controls, and sanctions frameworks. The efforts ensured compliance, tax incentive optimization, and risk management across local, European, and international contexts.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborated with diverse stakeholders, including business partners, suppliers, distributors, and regulatory authorities across the EU, U.S., China, India, and the Middle East.

Legal Advocacy: Effectively represented the company in court, addressing an evasion case related to customs, global trade, export controls and sanctions.

Results-Driven Leadership: Led high-performing teams, fostering cross-functional collaboration and achieving meaningful outcomes in an intercultural environment.

As an enthusiastic global leader, it is committed to shaping public policy, driving regulatory transformations, and devising innovative solutions. With over a decade of experience, it is poised to enhance the company’s success across diverse business landscapes. Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Uses independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Collaborative leader with dedication to partnering with coworkers to promote engaged, empowering work culture. Documented strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings.

• Place of Birth: Thailand
• Date of Birth: 05/25/1978
• Nationality: Thai / German PR / UAE Residency
• Marital Status: Married

• Project BMW Parts Manufacturing (BPM): Successfully led and implemented the project from Thailand side. Ensured the smooth set up of the new legal entity (BPM) which should produce parts to supply BMW plant in Thailand and BMW Motorrad production network worldwide. All required approvals, certificates and permits (IEAT, BOI, Customs free zone etc.) have been obtained on time.
• Customs litigation (DSI case): Successfully defended the company in the customs litigation case at the criminal court. The criminal court has rendered its judgment in favor of BMWs by ruling that BMWs are not guilty as charged by the plaintiff and what BMWs have done in 2006 / 2007 by using customs free zone and ATIGA benefits are compliant with all applicable rules and regulations. As a consequence, the company is released from the requested additional duty and tax payment as well as the relevant penalties.
• Export BMW X3, X5 and X6 from Thailand to China under the ACFTA: Successfully implemented of the export process and completed all relevant processes effectively and timely. All free zone requirements as well as ACFTA requirements have been fulfilled by BMW.
• Export motorcycles to China, India and ASEAN countries: Ensured that all relevant processes have been effectively and timely implemented. All free zone requirements as well as other FTAs such as ACFTA, AIFTA and ATIGA requirements have been fulfilled by BMW.
• Set up the business and relevant processes for Rolls Royce vehicles in Thailand: Successfully implemented all relevant processes (import processes, homologation and government licensing) effectively and timely including all required documents (invoices & shipping documents, TISI certificate, eco sticker, excise product code) in order to ensure the smooth customs clearance process.
• BOI investment promotion scheme for PHEV/EV: All required approvals, certificates and permits have been obtained on time so that the company can use the BOI benefits as well as the excise reduction for locally produced PHEV and EV vehicles
• Export control and sanctions: Successfully implemented all required tasks for BMW Group Thailand regarding Export control and sanctions which are according to the legal requirements of the UN, USA, EU and Thailand.
• Customs free zone management: Managed and performed the smooth business operation of the customs free zone for BMW plant, manage the compliance with SPP requirements for CFZ for cars & motorcycle: Regulation is communicated, impact of the SPP requirements is evaluated. Necessary tasks are identified and allocated. Closely monitored and ensured that the yearly required production volume of 2,000 units/year for cars (ICE and PHEV) as well as 1,000 units/year for motorcycles are fulfilled according to the customs free zone rules and regulations. So that the company can enjoy the customs and tax benefits of the customs free zone in Thailand.
• FTAs & Local content management: All required input and advice according to the applicable rules and regulations as well as the requirements of free zone, ATIGA, ACFTA, AIFTA etc. in term of local content have been provided and successfully implemented. This is to ensure the legal compliance and satisfy the customs audits from different countries.
• Project - Preferential Calculation Thailand (PCT): All required input and advice according to the applicable rules and regulations as well as the requirements of free zone, ATIGA, ACFTA, AIFTA etc. in term of local content have been provided to the project team. This is to ensure the legal compliance and satisfy the customs audits from different countries. At the end, the project has been successful implemented and the MIC system has been selected and implemented for the local content calculation for cars and motorcycles produced in Thailand.
• CBU import for BMW Thailand (NSC): Ensured the compliance and smooth customs clearance for CBU imports (BMW, MINI, Motorcycles and Rolls Royce), completed all relevant processes effectively and timely. All legal requirements have been fulfilled by BMW; including import CBUs from Malaysia using Form D under the ATIGA and China (BEV and Motorcycles) using Form E under the ACFTA.
• Project “Vehicle regulations data management (VRDM)”: Provided all required input as well as all relevant legal requirements and to ensure the new central system for regulations data management. Ensured the business GO-LIVE successfully as planned. This project has been identified in order to improve the process efficiency of homologation and government licensing as well as eco sticker for cars and motorcycles. This should be a centralized system for required data regarding vehicle regulations for all concerned departments.
• Homologation & Government Licensing for CBU and CKD vehicles as well as compulsory parts: All relevant processes have been implemented and completed effectively and timely. All required certificates have been obtained on time. Appropriate advice and solutions have been provided to all concerned parties to ensure that there is no import issue.
• Project CKD production for Motorcycle in Thailand: Provided input from local market perspective to the formulation of EX PNW2 Strategy. All relevant legal requirements have been provided. At the end, the project has been successfully implemented.
• Project CKD production for MINI in Thailand: Provided input from local market perspective. All relevant legal requirements as well as customs free zone and local content requirements have been provided. At the end, the project has been successfully implemented.
• AEO certification projects: Successfully performed the quick scan, analysis of current situation, preparing for certification, assistance with application procedure, ongoing management
• Using of customs procedures: Successfully established and performed customs warehousing, inward processing, processing under the customs control, temporary importation and outward processing
• Optimization of customs processes: Optimized and simplified of customs clearing/compliance, improvement of customs processes
• REACH projects - Successfully implemented all legal requirements
• VAT package 2010: Determined relevant VAT legislation for industry and business model; assess how the new rules will affect current VAT relevant transactions. Identify processes and systems impacted by the VAT package 2010. Advice on preparing and filing of the VAT return as well as the EC Sales List (ESL).
• Market Development and CKD Plant in India, Sub-project responsibility, tax and customs consultation, successfully supported and implemented the project in establishment of a new production plant and sales company in India: adjustment transfer pricing, policy, advance ruling, customs and tax registrations, approvals (IEC, Project Import Scheme, SVB etc.), homologation vehicles, logistics- and finance processes
• ASEAN and AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area), Project responsibility, review, analysis and appraisal the effects of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) on the business of the BMW Group: 40% local content, rules of origin, form D, purchasing of external suppliers and service providers in South East Asia Region
• Customs Free Zone in Thailand, Project responsibility, analysis / assessment and optimization the potential and advantages of customs free zone for the BMW Group, assistance in filling of the application and completion the requirements of the Thai customs
• Advancement of the CKD Plant in Thailand, Review / analysis and potential optimization of the production plant in Thailand: prospective strategy for the location Thailand, China and India in the Asian region; supply the AFTA countries from Thailand, advantages from customs and logistics point of view, use the benefits of Free Trade Agreements
• CKD Plant in Russia, Responsibility for tax and customs affairs, support and appraisal the legal, political and economic changes and general conditions in Russia
• Rebates in South Africa (Duty Drawback), Analysis and optimization of the duty drawback / the validation of rebates in South Africa
• Automotive Policy in Vietnam, Sub-project responsibility, review and assessment the legal framework and conditions for the CKD, SKD, CBU in Vietnam
• China CKD and CBU Projects, Functional responsibility for tax and customs consultation, assistance the BMW Group marketing staffs in the China region, support and appraisal the legal, political and economic changes and general conditions in China
• Indirect Taxes for Vehicles in the EU (Registration Tax For Vehicles), Project responsibility, analysis and assessment the registration tax in the EU and its impacts on the transfer pricing policy of the BMW Group
• Importation of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), X3 and X5 into Australia and New Zealand, Consultancy and assistance regarding customs issues, review the legal framework, queries and respectively coordination with customs authorities
• Customs Risk Management / Customs Questionnaire / International Customs Database, Project responsibility, preparation and compilation a customs questionnaire, to obtain financial key figures and customs relevant information from production plants and sales companies of the BMW Group, coordination with customs managers / responsible persons worldwide, information exchange, evaluation and review the information, risk analysis, build-up an international customs database
• Established Global Customs & Compliance Platform (GCCP), Cooperation and assistance in concept and outline of the project definition / scope and preliminary concept, general and detailed concept
• Performed relevant legal security, legal situation and legal framework for foreign investment in China
• Provided security aspects of an operation of the BMW Group in India (political, economic and legal conditions)
• Implemented C-TPAT US Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism (security requirements of the US-customs for imported goods into the USA)