CIMB Thai Bank Plc. ("CIMB Thai" or "the Bank") today announced the appointment of Mr. Paul Wong Chee Kin as President & CEO of CIMB Thai, effective 1 February 2021. He succeeds Mr. Sutee Losoponkul, who was Acting President & CEO since September 2020 following the departure of the previous CEO, Adisorn Sermchaiwong. Mr. Sutee will remain with CIMB Thai and assume the role as Advisor to the President & CEO, effective 1 February 2021. These appointments have received approval from the Bank of Thailand.
Paul is currently CIMB's Group Chief Operations Officer, overseeing activities across functions in the areas of payments and digitalisation as well as strategy, customer delivery and process improvements. With more than 25 years of experience in banking and finance in ASEAN, Paul brings with him deep insight and knowledge of the industry and region. Paul started his career at CIMB Group in 2007 as Senior Vice President, Head of Sales Management - Consumer Sales & Distribution of CIMB Bank Berhad and has been assigned to various positions within the Group, including stints in Philippines and Singapore. He has a strong track record in strategic projects regionally, in digitalisation and transformation, and brings in depth functional experience in operations, having successfully led and transformed Group Operations. Paul also served on the Board of Directors for Principal Asset Management Berhad.
Prior to CIMB, Paul served in various capacities in several financial institutions in Malaysia and Singapore.
Dato' Robert Cheim Dau Meng, CIMB Thai's Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, In line with CIMB Group's Forward23+ vision to be 'The Leading Focused ASEAN Bank,' CIMB Thai is regarded as an important market for CIMB. With a proven track record in various capacities during his 13 years in CIMB, Mr. Paul Wong has been appointed to lead the Bank toward this goal. His well-rounded, in-depth knowledge and understanding of the business, and having played an important role in driving the Group's strategies and transformation endeavours, he is expected to effectively synergise his expertise and experience with the management team of CIMB Thai to steer the Bank toward being Thailand's 'Digital-led Bank with ASEAN Reach.'
"On behalf of the Board of Directors of CIMB Thai, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Sutee Losoponkul for his dedication and contribution to the Bank's smooth and efficient business operation during the managerial transition. I am also very delighted that Mr. Sutee will stay with us and support us by sharing his valuable experience as the Advisor to the President and CEO of the Bank," added Dato' Robert.