Confirmation of Mr Nirat’s transfer to the top bureaucratic post in Phuket came by an announcement posted by the Phuket branch of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) earlier this week.
The announcement follows the Royal Gazette formally published the order of his appointment.on Wednesday (Nov 12).
Mr Nirat, originally from Bangkok, has previously served as Governor of Chiang Mai. His experience as a provincial governor first started with the very rural Bueng Kan Province, then in Udon Thani. He was then transferred to the DOPA headquarters in Bangkok.
Mr Nirat became Director-General of DOPA under the short-lived administration of Phumtham Wechayachai, who served as Acting Prime Minister for just 66 days, from July 3, 2025 to Sept 7, 2025.
Mr Nirat’s series of fast-tracked promotions have all come while Anutin Charnvirakul has served as Minister of Interior.
His transfer was initially approved by the Cabinet on Oct 14, but was unusually waylaid for more than a month before it was granted royal assent and confirmed through the Royal Gazette.
Saransak Srikruanetra, now officially the former Phuket Governor, ended his public duties on Wednesday (Nov 12), Anuphong Panarat, Secretary to the Phuket Governor, confirmed to The Phuket News.
Mr Saransak will start his new position as Governor of Nong Khai on Monday.
Mr Saransak had served as Phuket Governor since Oct 1 and ended his duty after just 42 days, making him the shortest serving Phuket Governor on record.
Regardless, Governor Saransak said he was content to remain in his post in Phuket. “I am happy working here. It is fun to work with the people of Phuket ‒ and especially challenging,” he told The Phuket News.
“I feel sad that I have had too little time in this position.”
Meanwhile, Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai has also been ordered to transfer to serve to the post of Vice Governor of Nakhon Pathom Province, effective Nov 11.
However, Mr Samawit’s replacement has yet to be announced.