The Cabinet approved the appointment today of former finance permanent secretary Somchai Satjapong as the new chairman of the Bank of Thailand. He will succeed Paramethi Wimonsiri, whose term expired on January 16th.
In late February, the selection committee, headed by finance permanent secretary Sathit Limpongpan endorsed the nomination of Somchai, after the Finance Ministry’s candidate, former deputy prime minister Kittiratt Na Ranong, was disqualified by the Council of State because he had served as an advisor to former prime minister Srettha Thavisin.
Somchai graduated with a BA in Economics from Chulalongkorn University and an MA and PhD in Economics from the Ohio State University in the US.
He has held several important positions in the Finance Ministry, including the director-general of Customs Department, director of the Fiscal Policy Office, director of the Office of the State Enterprise Policy Committee and finance permanent secretary.
He is also on the boards of several private companies.
