Fintech has witnessed significant growth in Thailand supported by an active ecosystem of startups, financial institutions and government agencies all pushing for digitalization and innovation in the banking and financial services industry.
In particular, it is the Bank of Thailand, the country’s central bank, that has taken a leading role in creating a favorable environment, undertaking several 
initiatives such as the 2018 Bangkok Fintech Fair in March, introducing a National e-Payment Master Plan to turn Thailand into a cashless economy, and launching a fintech regulatory sandbox in June 2017.
To keep up with Thailand’s rapidly evolving fintech industry and changing financial landscape, the following 10 individuals are the country’s most prominent fintech influencers to follow very closely, according to the Thai Fintech Association:
Trawut Luangsomboon, CEO and co-founder of Jitta.com
Trawut Luangsomboon is the CEO and co-founder of Jitta.com, a “value investing” platform that simplifies financial analysis for individual investors and financial advisors. The platform offers actionable advice to help users streamline investment decision-making and generate better returns.
Luangsomboon is a serial entrepreneur and a self-taught value investor with more than 8 years of investing experience in US stock markets. He started his first online business since he was a graduate student and enter the stock market shortly after. Luangsomboon specializes in value investment concept and simple investment strategy lead by Warren Buffett “buy a wonderful company at a fair price.” He graduated from the University of Southern California in engineering.
Thuntee Sukchotrat, CEO of JIBEX
Thuntee Sukchotrat is the CEO of JIBEX, a digital exchange for cryptocurrencies launched earlier this year. JIBEX was founded in Somyot Chaowalit, managing director of J.I.B. Computer Group Co., Ltd., and Sukchotrat, a fintech expert with a vision to create a knowledge center and an intelligent platform to facilitate digital currency exchange for beginners and traders. JIBEX is backed by J.I.B. and headed by a team of veterans in fintech.
JIBEX supports five cryptocurrencies: bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ether, litecoin, and ripple. More will be added in the future. The company also offers a wallet supporting those five cryptocurrencies.
Natwut Amornvivat, co-founder of T2P Co., Ltd., and vice president of the Thai Fintech Association
Natwut Amornvivat is the co-founder of T2P Co., Ltd., a Thai e-wallet service provider, and the vice president of the Thai Fintech Association, an organization formed to support fintech in Thailand comprising of over 100 members, including tech startups, the research and development arms of multibillion-dollar companies, venture capital firms, and major Thai banks.
Amornvivat is an entrepreneur in information technology and fintech, and a serial innovator looking to “create better lives for the blinds using technologies,” according to his Linkedin profile. T2P was the first company in Thailand 500 Startups invested in directly back in 2016. That same year, the startup signed a partnership with Myanmar’s top retailer City Mart Holding to enter the market.
Jessada Sookdhis, CEO and co-founder of Finnomena, and president of the Thai Fintech Association
Jessada Sookdhis is a fintech entrepreneur and experienced fund manager. He is the president of the Thai Fintech Association, and the CEO and co-founder of Finnomena, a leading wealth management fintech in Thailand. Finnomena offers investment advice through Nter, a robo-advisor which allows investors to create an investment plan and put money into mutual funds.
Sookdhis has a progressive experience in fintech and Investment management gained from top firms in Thailand including UOB Asset Management, Krungsri Asset Management, SCB Asset Management, and CIMB-Principal Asset Management where he served as CIO. He also serves as a professor and lecturer in several universities and institutions and is an author and resource speaker on finance and investments.
Buncha Manoonkunchai, senior director of the Financial Technology Department at the Bank of Thailand
Buncha Manoonkunchai joined the Bank of Thailand more than 20 years ago. Currently, he is the senior director of the Financial Technology Department. One of his main responsibilities is to promote the adoption of fintech and innovation financial and payment products. During the past years, he has worked actively in the area of payment systems policy and helped formulate and drive the implementation of the National e-Payment Master Plan, including the PromptPay system, the Standardization of QR code project and the National Digital Identity (NDID) platform. Manoonkunchai’s education background is in economics and finance.
Thakorn Piyapan, head of Krungsri Consumer Group and head of digital banking and innovation at Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri Bank)
Thakorn Piyapan is the head of Krungsri Consumer Group at Ayudhya Public Co. Ltd. and the head of digital banking and innovation at Krungsri Bank.
Piyapan has over 20 years of extensive management experience in retail credit, consumer finance, sales finance and digital banking. In his current role, he leads Thailand’s largest credit card, personal and installment loan portfolio of over 7 million customers. He also serves as head of digital banking and innovation and is responsible for planning and implementing digital banking strategies to transform the business and process of the bank and its subsidiaries.
Korn Chatikavanij, chairman of the Thai Fintech Assocation
Korn Chatikavanij is currently chairman of the Thailand Democrat Party Policy Unit, and chairman of the Thai Fintech Association. He served as finance minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he was president and chairman of JP Morgan Securities (Thailand) from 2000 to 2004.
Much of Chatikavanij’s career was spent in the finance sector since his early age at SG Warburg, London. He then co- founded JF Thanakom Securities and was its president for 11 years. After the merger of Jardine Fleming and JP Morgan, he became president and subsequently chairman of JP Morgan Securities (Thailand). He left to run for Bangkok Member of Parliament in October 2004.
Chonladet Khemarattana, CEO of Fintech (Thailand), and CEO of Robowealth Mutual Fund
Chonladet Khemarattana is the CEO of Fintech (Thailand), an algorithm trading solution provider, and the CEO of Robowealth Mutual Fund, a robo-advisor startup. At Fintech (Thailand), Khemarattana is in charge of company’s research and development center. Prior to founding Fintech (Thailand), he was a managing director of a securities company and spent more than 12 years working for Thailand’s leading financial institutions. His area of expertise covers online brokerage business development, marketing strategy, algorithmic trading and investment advisory.
Rapee Sucharitakul, secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand
Rapee Sucharitakul is the secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand. Concurrently, he serves as a member of the state enterprises policy committee.
Sucharitakul joined the SEC at its establishment and devoted 13 years of his career to capital market development and supervision. He left the SEC in 2005 to take on several positions in private and public organizations, where he gained extensive experiences in policy making, consultancy and management. Some of his previous posts include member of the board of governors of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, director of Thailand Futures Exchange, director of the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations, and director of the Thai Institute of Directors Association.
Tipsuda Thavaramara, deputy secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand
Tipsuda Thavaramara is the deputy secretary-general of the SEC in charge of the policy and corporate finance groups. She joined the SEC in 1993 and has extensive experience in capital market development. She played an active role in creating the Thai Bond Market Association, drafting the Derivatives Law and launching Thailand Futures Exchange, and formulating the implementation plan for ASEAN capital market integration.
