Early Life
Peter Sondakh was born in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, on July 23, 1953. He is the son of a businessman who exported wood and coconut oil. Sondakh's father passed away when he was young, and at the age of 22, he took over the family business.
Rise to Success
Sondakh's career took off when he founded PT Rajawali Wira Bhakti Utama in 1984, which later became Rajawali Corpora. He demonstrated early on his business acumen and foresight by establishing Indonesia's first private television station, Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI), in 1987. He is also credited with launching Asia's first prepaid telecommunications service in 1997, during the Asian financial crisis. Sondakh's leadership saw him make strategic investments in various sectors, including the acquisition and turnaround of the cigarette manufacturer PT Bentoel Group, and an investment in PT Excelcomindo Pratama (XL), a telecommunications company. His company, Express Group, pioneered an ownership scheme for taxi drivers, which garnered attention from the United Nations.
Key Business Strategies
Sondakh is known for his ability to identify and capitalize on business opportunities. His investment firm, Rajawali Corpora, has a diverse portfolio that includes hotels (Four Seasons and St. Regis), media, and mining. He is recognized for his willingness to sell businesses when they reach their peak profit potential and for his emphasis on diversification to mitigate risks.
Philanthropy
In 2004, Sondakh founded the Rajawali Foundation (RF), the philanthropic arm of Rajawali Corpora. The foundation's mission is to promote peace, prosperity, and the conservation of Indonesia's natural heritage through support for research, education, and training.