Erick Thohir

Erick Thohir (born 30 May 1970) is an Indonesian businessman and politician who has served as Indonesia's Minister of State Owned Enterprises since 2019 and chairman of Football Association of Indonesia since 2023.

He is the founder of Mahaka Group, a conglomeration that focuses on media, sports and entertainment.

Globally known as the former owner and chairman of Italian football giant Inter Milan and US soccer club D.C. United, Thohir is currently co-owner alongside Anindya Bakrie of English League One team Oxford United and Liga 1 team Persis Solo along with Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko Widodo.

He was also the president director of ANTV television station and the chief of the Indonesian Olympic Committee.

Erick Thohir was born on 30 May 1970.

His father, Teddy Thohir, was a co-owner of the automotive group Astra International with William Soeryadjaya.

He has a brother and a sister.

Thohir received his master's degree in 1993 from National University (California), United States.

Upon his return to Indonesia, together with his colleagues, he formed the Mahaka Group.

In 2001, the Mahaka Group bought Republika, the biggest Islamic newspaper in Indonesia.

Because of Thohir's background in communications, he was chosen to lead the paper.

He received support from his father, as well as founder of Kompas Jakob Oetama and founder of Jawa Pos Dahlan Iskan to run this newspaper.

The Mahaka Group spread its potential by investing in the outdoor advertising company Mahaka Advertising due to the growth of the economic and the city size in 2002.

After launching the television station Jak TV, Mahaka introduced the radio stations 98.7 Gen FM and 101 Jak FM, and participated in PT Radionet Cipta Karya (Prambors FM, Delta FM and FeMale Radio), as well as numerous advertising, ticketing, entertainment and digital companies.

Thohir is the founder of Darma Bakti Mahaka Foundation.

He has been President of SEABA (Southeast Asian Basketball Association) since 2006.

In 2011, together with Anindya Bakrie he co-owned the television networks tvOne, as well as the internet news site VIVA.co.id.

After negotiations started after the 2011 NBA All-Star Game with former basketball agent Jason Levien and managing owner Josh Harris, Thohir became part of the consortium that bought the Philadelphia 76ers.

The consortium included actor Will Smith, his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, David Blitzer of the private equity firm Blackstone Group, and Indonesian businessman Handy Soetedjo.

Comcast-Spectacor and Harris began talks in the summer of 2011.

The deal was announced on 13 July 2011.

He was Chef De Mission of the Indonesia Contingent for the Olympic Games London 2012, and Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee for 2015–2019.

In 2014, he was involved in a turnaround project and became the President Director of ANTV until 2019.

In addition to his business, Thohir also owns the basketball team Satria Muda, and served as an honorary board member of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PERBASI / Persatuan Bola Basket Seluruh Indonesia) from 2015 to 2019.

In 2018, incumbent president Joko Widodo picked Thohir as chief of his re-election campaign for the 2019 presidential election.

In 2019, he became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Thohir is also currently a member of the FIBA Central Board.

In 2019, among 10 other individuals Thohir was appointed to the International Olympic Committee.

In February 2023, Thohir was elected as the new chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).