Erick Thohir

2.1. Family background

Erick Thohir is the son of Mochammad Teddy Thohir, a notable entrepreneur who was a co-owner of Astra International, one of Indonesia's largest conglomerates, alongside William Soeryadjaya. Teddy Thohir hailed from Gunung Sugih, Lampung. Erick's mother, Edna Thohir, has Chinese and Sundanese heritage and originated from Majalengka, West Java. Erick is the youngest of three siblings; his elder brother, Garibaldi Thohir, affectionately known as Boy Thohir, is a prominent investment banker and billionaire, while his sister is named Hireka Vitaya, or Rika Thohir. From a young age, Erick assisted in his family's business endeavors, gaining early exposure to the world of entrepreneurship.

2.2. Education

Erick Thohir pursued his higher education in the United States. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Glendale Community College. Subsequently, in 1993, he completed his MBA from National University (California) in California. In 2023, Thohir was awarded an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Strategic Management from Universitas Brawijaya. This conferment, however, was met with student protests, highlighting public scrutiny of such academic honors. During his time in higher education, Erick Thohir also established friendships with figures like Sandiaga Uno and Muhammad Lutfi.

3.1. Mahaka Group and media business

Upon his return to Indonesia, Erick Thohir, along with his colleagues Muhammad Lutfi, Wisnu Wardhana, and R. Harry Zulnardy, founded the Mahaka Group. PT Abdi Bangsa was established in Jakarta on November 28, 1992, and later became PT Mahaka Media Tbk. In 2001, Mahaka Group acquired Republika, then the largest Islamic newspaper in Indonesia, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Thohir, with his background in communications, took the helm of the newspaper. He received crucial support from his father, as well as Kompas founder Jakob Oetama and Jawa Pos founder Dahlan Iskan, in running Republika.

In 2002, capitalizing on economic growth and expanding urban populations, Mahaka Group broadened its scope by establishing Mahaka Advertising, an outdoor advertising company. Further solidifying its presence in the media landscape, Mahaka launched the television station Jak TV. In 2007, the group introduced the radio stations 98.7 Gen FM and 101 Jak FM. It also rebranded other stations such as Hot FM, Mustang FM, Kis FM, and Most FM, and invested in PT Radionet Cipta Karya, which operates Prambors FM, Bahana FM, Delta FM, and FeMale Radio. The group's expansion extended to various advertising, ticketing (including RajaKarcis.com), entertainment, and digital companies.

In 2008, Erick Thohir, together with Anindya Bakrie, established tvOne and the internet news site Vivanews. He later played a key role in a turnaround project, serving as the President Director of ANTV from 2014 until 2019. In 2007, Thohir also ventured into the creative agency, brand activation, and event organizer (EO) sectors through PT Kalyanamitra Adhara Mahardika, known as Alive Indonesia. Alive Indonesia managed various events, including product launches for Honda Vario, BRI, XL, and New Honda CBR. In a significant move, Mahaka Media Tbk acquired an 80% stake in Alive! Indonesia for 3.70 B IDR.

3.2. Other business interests

Beyond his extensive media empire, Erick Thohir has diversified his business interests into other significant sectors, most notably mining. He operates in this sector through PT Adaro Energy Tbk, one of Indonesia's largest coal companies, in collaboration with his elder brother, Garibaldi Thohir. While Thohir has been actively involved in these ventures, his direct engagement with the Adaro Foundation became inactive after his appointment as Minister of State-Owned Enterprises. His personal assets have been estimated to be around 8.00 B USD, reflecting his success across various industries. His brother, Garibaldi Thohir, is also a billionaire and was ranked among the world's richest individuals by Forbes in 2013, appearing at 1250th globally and 19th in Indonesia.

4.1. Minister of State-Owned Enterprises

Erick Thohir was appointed as the 9th Minister of State-Owned Enterprises on October 23, 2019, succeeding Rini Soemarno. In this capacity, he became a key member of President Joko Widodo's Onward Indonesia Cabinet and later the Merah Putih Cabinet. His tenure as Minister involves overseeing and managing the vast portfolio of state-owned enterprises in Indonesia, which play a crucial role in the nation's economy.

4.2. Involvement in national campaigns

In 2018, incumbent President Joko Widodo selected Erick Thohir to serve as the chief of his re-election campaign for the 2019 presidential election. In this crucial role, Thohir led the National Campaign Team for the Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin ticket, demonstrating his organizational prowess and influence in national politics.

4.3. Leadership roles in sports organizations

Thohir has a long-standing involvement in sports leadership, both domestically and internationally. He served as the Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee from 2015 to 2019. Prior to this, he was the Chef De Mission of the Indonesia Contingent for the London 2012 Olympic Games. His organizational skills were further highlighted when he was entrusted with the chairmanship of the 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) for the Jakarta-Palembang event, which he successfully managed. His passion for basketball led him to serve as the Chairman of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PERBASI) from 2006 to 2010 and as an honorary board member from 2015 to 2019. He was also the President of the SEABA from 2006 to 2019. In February 2023, Thohir was elected as the new Chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), underscoring his continued influence in Indonesian sports. Additionally, since January 23, 2021, he has held the position of Chairman of the Indonesian Sharia Economic Community (Masyarakat Ekonomi Syariah).

5.1. Basketball clubs

Thohir's passion for basketball is evident in his long history of team ownership. Since 1999, he has been the founder and owner of Satria Muda, an Indonesian professional basketball club competing in the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL).

He made international headlines in 2011 when he became the first Asian to own an NBA team. Following negotiations that began after the 2011 NBA All-Star Game with former basketball agent Jason Levien and managing owner Josh Harris, Thohir joined a consortium that acquired the Philadelphia 76ers. This ownership group also notably included Hollywood actor Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, along with David Blitzer of the private equity firm Blackstone Group, and Indonesian businessman Handy Soetedjo. The deal was officially announced on July 13, 2011, and Thohir maintained his co-ownership until 2013. He also held the position of Chairman for the Indonesia Warriors, a team that participated in the ASEAN Basketball League.

5.2. Football clubs

Thohir's foray into football ownership brought him global recognition, particularly through his acquisition of major European and American clubs.

• D.C. United (United States): In July 2012, Thohir and Jason Levien became the majority co-owners of D.C. United, a club in Major League Soccer (MLS). During their tenure, they actively explored initiatives to improve the club's infrastructure, including efforts towards new stadium construction. Thohir's involvement with the club concluded in 2018.

• Inter Milan (Italy): Thohir's most high-profile acquisition was the Italian Serie A giant, Inter Milan. Negotiations for a 70% majority stake in the club commenced in September 2013. The acquisition was officially completed on October 15, 2013, through International Sport Capital, a consortium led by Thohir, Rosan Roeslani, and Handy Soetedjo. The acquisition was reported to be around 350.00 M EUR. On November 15, 2013, Thohir was appointed president of Inter Milan, becoming the club's first foreign owner and succeeding Massimo Moratti, who then became honorary president. Thohir's favorite Inter Milan player was Nicola Ventola, and he was inspired by the Dutch national team since childhood. In 2016, he sold his majority ownership to the Chinese company Suning Holdings Group Co. He then relinquished his presidency to Steven Zhang in 2018, concluding his direct leadership of the club by 2019.

• Oxford United (England): Thohir is a co-owner of the English football club Oxford United, which competes in the Championship (formerly League One). He shares ownership with Anindya Bakrie.

• Persis Solo (Indonesia): In Indonesia, Thohir is a co-owner of Persis Solo, a team in Liga 1, alongside Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko Widodo.

• Persib Bandung (Indonesia): From 2009 to 2019, Thohir also served as the Vice Commissioner of Persib Bandung.

• Persija Jakarta (Indonesia): Earlier in his career, Thohir was involved with Persija Jakarta, serving as its manager from 1997 to the early 2000s.

6.1. Philanthropy and foundations

Erick Thohir is the founder of the Darma Bakti Mahaka Foundation, an organization dedicated to gathering funds for various social activities and charitable initiatives. This foundation underscores his commitment to giving back to the community and supporting causes beyond the scope of his business and political roles.

6.2. Writings

Erick Thohir has also ventured into authorship. In 2011, he published a book titled Pers Indonesia di Mata Saya (Indonesian Press in My Eyes). The book, launched by the publisher Republika, reflects on his insights and perspectives concerning the media landscape in Indonesia, drawing from his extensive experience in the industry.

6.3. Filmography

Erick Thohir has also been involved in the Indonesian film industry, primarily serving as an executive producer for several notable films.