BOT chairman, ex-NESDB head vie for central bank chair
Experienced economists Ampon Kittiampon and Sansern Wongcha-Um are candidates for chairman of the Bank of Thailand, according to an anonymous Finance Ministry source.
A list of candidates for the post is expected to be forwarded to a nomination committee by the end of this month or early in May.
Ampon currently holds the position until next month and is eligible for an extension for another term. He replaced the BOT board’s previous chairman, Dr Virabongsa Ramangkura, who ended his term at the end of July 2013.
Ampon has been a member of some of the central bank’s committees, including the Monetary Policy Committee, and the BOT board for no less than 10 years.
The other candidate, Sansern, also has deep knowledge about the economy, as he earlier held the position of secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).
The nomination process allows the BOT governor to name two qualified candidates, while the Finance Ministry’s permanent secretary can nominate one person.
After that, the nomination committee, appointed by the finance minister, will select one candidate and forward their choice to the finance minister, who will propose that candidate to the Cabinet for approval.
The nomination committee, appointed by Finance Minister Sommai Phasee, consists of seven members and is chaired by former Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Sompol Kiatphaibool, the source said.
The other members are former Finance permanent secretaries Suparat Kawatkul and Supachai Pisitvanich, former Council of State secretary-general Pornthip Jala, former Treasury Department director-general Naris Chaiyasoot, former Industry Ministry permanent secretary Manu Leopairote, and former Budget Bureau director-general Woravit Jampeerat.
