Take a Gander at Thailand's New BOT honcho: Somchai Sujjapongse
New appointment announced: Somchai Sujjapongse takes the helm as Chairman of the BOT Board
Y'all ready for some top-notch financial expertise? Let's scope out our new Bank of Thailand (BOT) Board Chairman, the one and only Somchai Sujjapongse. Here's the lowdown on this fella.
Born on the 27th of July, 1961, ol' Somchai is currently 63 years young and a well-respected economist. With nearly 22 years under his belt in fiscal economics, this cat has been climbing the ranks steadily, holdin' key positions like:
- Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance: (October 1, 2015 - May 1, 2018)
- Director-General of the Customs Department: (Two terms: October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010 & June 27, 2014 - September 30, 2015)
- Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office: (Two terms: October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009 & October 1, 2011 - June 26, 2014)
- Director of the State Enterprise Policy Office: (October 1, 2010 - September 30, 2011)
- Fiscal Policy Adviser: (January 29, 2007 - September 30, 2008)
- Deputy Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office: (October 16, 2003 - January 28, 2007)
This ain't his first rodeo, folks. Before takeoff, he held various directorial positions within the Fiscal Policy Office, makin' significant contributions to financial policy development, savings and investment planning, and fiscal risk management.
When he's not busy keepin' our economy hummin' along, Somchai gets his academia on, servin' as a guest lecturer for master's degree programs at Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University, and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, sharin' his wealth of knowledge and experience with the future generations of financial gurus.
Guess who's now at the helm of the BOT, effective June 2, 2025? That's right, ol' Somchai. He's replaced Paramethi Wimonsiri, who, let's not forget, had his term end in January 2025. His appointment was officially endorsed by His Majesty the King and countersigned by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Catch ya on the flip side! Stay financially savvy, peeps.
Somchai Sujjapongse's extensive experience in finance extends beyond his new role as Bank of Thailand's (BOT) Board Chairman, having held key positions such as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and the Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office. His previous work includes significant contributions to financial policy development, savings and investment planning, and fiscal risk management. In addition to his career, Somchai also serves as a guest lecturer for master's degree programs at Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University, and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, sharing his expertise with future financial professionals. Somchai took over the BOT on June 2, 2025, following the end of Paramethi Wimonsiri's term, a change that was officially endorsed by His Majesty the King and countersigned by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. With such a rich background, Somchai's international economics knowledge is expected to significantly impact Thailand's economy and finance industry.
