Bangkok, Thailand, 19 September 2026 — DigitalCFO Asia’s 5th Finance ReImagined Thailand 2026 brought together finance leaders, technology executives and industry experts for a full day of conversations on strategic leadership, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, talent and sustainable business growth. Held from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, the conference explored how finance leaders can move beyond traditional stewardship and play a more influential role in shaping enterprise strategy amid an increasingly complex business environment.
The event was made possible with the support of its valued sponsors and partners: Gold Sponsor and Exhibitor: Anaplan + iCE; Roundtable Sponsor and Exhibitor: Oracle; Document Management Partner and Exhibitor: DocuWare + Ricoh; Exhibitors: Prophix + PWL, think-cell, G-Able and Novituz; Supporting Partners: Comarch, Go Capital, Aon and LucaNet; Recruitment Partner: WeNetwork; and Supporting Organisation: Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Their support helped create a platform for Thailand’s finance community to exchange ideas, examine emerging challenges and build meaningful industry connections.
From Financial Steward to Strategic Value Creator
Setting the tone for the day, Sundeep Kohli, Senior Vice President Finance at Indorama Ventures, delivered the opening keynote, Finance ReImagined – From Financial Steward to Strategic Value Creator. The session explored a fundamental shift in modern finance leadership: moving beyond reporting, governance and control to become a strategic partner capable of influencing business direction and long-term value creation.
As organisations face more interconnected financial, technological and geopolitical pressures, the discussion reinforced that the finance function is increasingly expected to contribute to decisions well beyond the balance sheet. For CFOs, this means combining financial discipline with commercial understanding and a clearer view of where future value can be created.
Connected Planning: Turning AI Intelligence into Coordinated Action
The first Technology Spotlight, Connected Planning: The New Competitive Advantage for Modern CFOs, featured Kanjana Limpunyalert, Chief Executive Officer at iCE Consulting Co., Ltd., and Benjamin Glemet, Regional Vice President at Anaplan. Their session examined the intersection between probabilistic AI and deterministic planning, highlighting how organisations can use technology not simply to generate predictions, but to model scenarios, understand trade-offs and translate intelligence into coordinated business action.
The conversation highlighted an important challenge for modern finance teams: AI may expand what organisations can predict and analyse, but effective enterprise decisions must still account for financial consequences, operational constraints, governance and human accountability.
Balancing Risk, Growth and AI in a Fragmented World
Panel Discussion 1, 2026-2027 Challenges: Balancing Risk, Growth and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a Fragmented World, brought the conversation from technology into the broader strategic environment confronting finance leaders. Moderated by Ratinan Wongwatcharanon, First Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Thai Credit Bank Public Company Limited, the panel featured Piya Oranriksuphak, Chief Financial Officer at Chow Bright Ventures Holdings; Danny Han Seng Foong, SVP Head of Commercial Performance & Strategy Execution at True Corporation; David Llamas, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal and former Group Chief Digital Officer of Thai Union Group and Central Retail; and Ved Vyas, Founder & Strategic Finance Partner at The Profit Coach.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, the panellists discussed how organisations can pursue growth while remaining responsive to cybersecurity risks, regulatory pressures and rapidly changing customer expectations. The conversation reflected a reality increasingly familiar to CFOs: protecting the organisation and investing in its future can no longer be treated as separate priorities.
Strategic Leadership and Measurable Impact in an AI-Driven World
The first Executive Keynote featured Supanee Anuwongworavet, Founder & CEO of Novituz, The CrestHaus & EmpowerHER Asia, and former Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operations Officer of Microsoft Thailand. In Finance ReImagined – Strategic Leadership & Measurable Impact in an AI-Driven World, she examined what it means for finance leaders to step further into enterprise leadership at a time of geopolitical fragmentation, capital volatility and accelerating AI adoption. The session placed particular emphasis on measurable impact. As the CFO remit expands, transformation is increasingly judged not by the adoption of technology itself, but by whether investment translates into stronger decisions, resilience and tangible business outcomes.
Data Visualisation and Storytelling: Making Finance Clearer
Technology Spotlight 2 shifted attention towards one of finance’s enduring challenges: turning increasingly complex information into insights that decision-makers can act upon. Nobukuni Matsutsuka, Head of APAC at think-cell, led Data Visualization and Storytelling, examining how finance teams can bridge the gap between complex datasets and board-level decision-making through greater clarity, consistency and efficiency in reporting.
For finance professionals, the discussion reinforced that having more data does not automatically lead to better decisions. The ability to structure, visualise and communicate information effectively remains essential as CFOs increasingly advise boards and business leaders on strategic choices.
Shadow AI and the Hidden Cost of Innovation
Technology Spotlight 3 addressed a different side of the AI conversation. Halid Bin Ayob, Regional Sales Director (APAC South) at DocuWare, presented Shadow AI: The Hidden Cost Between Innovation and Exposure. The session examined the risks created when employees use public generative AI platforms to process sensitive financial information, including unreleased earnings and confidential vendor contracts.
As businesses pursue the productivity benefits of generative AI, the session underscored the importance of ensuring that speed and experimentation do not come at the expense of information security, governance and control.
Strategic Trade-Offs in Technology and Digital Investment
Panel Discussion 2, Strategic Trade-Offs: How CFOs/CIOs are Reprioritizing Technology, AI & Digital Investments in an Uncertain Economy, explored a question confronting finance and technology executives alike: where should organisations continue investing when capital is constrained?
Moderated by Pijittra (Gigi) Trirattanathada, Global Business Development & Strategy at Krungthai Bank, the discussion featured Raveeratana Satchavarodom, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at G-Able Public Company Limited; Alex Konnaris, Group Chief Information Officer at RMA Group; and Ryo Kobayashi, Division Manager – Marketing & Business Strategy at Ricoh (Thailand) Ltd. The panel examined the tension between cost discipline and technology-driven growth, reflecting on how leaders can assess competing investments in AI, automation, digital infrastructure and data capabilities while maintaining focus on long-term business value.
The Fractional Growth Engine: Expanding Access to Strategic Finance
As the afternoon programme began, Jerome Le Louer, Fractional CFO & Managing Partner at smeCFO, delivered The Fractional Growth Engine: How On-Demand CFOs Drive Expansion in an Uncertain Economy. His session explored the growing Fractional CFO model and how it can provide organisations with access to senior financial expertise and strategic guidance without relying solely on conventional full-time leadership structures.
The discussion reflected a broader evolution in how businesses access expertise, particularly as companies seek more flexible ways to strengthen financial strategy while navigating periods of uncertainty and expansion.
Beyond the Numbers: Why Strategic Finance Leadership Matters More Than Ever
The second Executive Keynote featured Marcel Ewals, Regional Director, Asia Pacific at the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), presenting Beyond the Numbers: Why Strategic Finance Leadership Matters More Than Ever. His session highlighted the continuing evolution of CFOs and finance professionals from technical specialists towards strategic advisers and trusted business partners.
As technology assumes a greater role in transactional processes, reporting and analysis, finance leaders have an opportunity to direct more attention towards interpretation, strategic judgement and collaboration across the enterprise.
AI Talent, Workforce Strategy and Culture Change
Panel Discussion 3 turned the spotlight towards the human side of transformation with AI Talent, Workforce Strategy & Culture Change: Can Organisations Keep Up While Delivering Measurable Business Impact?
Moderated by Sanpetch Tangsawapark, Business Controller at Electrolux, the panel brought together Giovanni Colella, Director of Finance & Accounting at Outpost; Sanjay Kumar Shrivastav, VP Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Tata Steel Thailand; and Yogesh Gopalkrishnan, Finance Director Thailand at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Their conversation examined the financial and operational realities accompanying AI-driven workforce transformation, including digital skills shortages, recruitment and training costs, and the difficult balance between bringing new capabilities into an organisation and reskilling existing employees.
Thailand Talent Outlook 2026: Preparing Finance for the Skills of Tomorrow
Panel Discussion 4, Thailand Talent Outlook 2026: Hiring Trends, Skills in Demand & Workforce Priorities in Accounting & Finance, focused specifically on the changing dynamics of Thailand’s talent market.
Moderated by Bank Rapipong, Head of Finance & Technology Thailand at WeNetwork, the session featured Saudi Khaneng, Country Lead, HR – Thailand & The Maldives at IHG Hotels & Resorts; Vibhore Kumar, Director, Human Resources at Western Digital Corporation; and Dr Pirata Phakdeesattayaphong, Partner at PwC Southeast Asia Consulting. Together, they explored changing hiring trends, in-demand skills, talent costs, productivity and capability development, highlighting the importance of ensuring that workforce strategy evolves alongside the technological transformation taking place across finance.
Ask the Experts: From Capital Allocation to Future Growth
The conference concluded with an interactive Audience Q&A Panel, Ask the Experts: Capital Allocation, Productivity and Future Growth Priorities. Moderated by Jerome Le Louer, Fractional CFO & Managing Partner at smeCFO, the session featured Ashok Jhanwar, Head of Finance at Kenvue, and Dr. Yanyong Thammatucharee, Founder of Ananta Wellness Chiang Mai, Licensed Auditor and Independent Business & Management Consultant. The format opened the floor to candid questions and practical perspectives on the issues shaping Thailand’s enterprises.
It provided a fitting conclusion to a day centred not simply on identifying the challenges facing finance, but on exploring how leaders can respond to them through stronger capital allocation, productivity, technology investment and strategic decision-making.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Finance ReImagined Conversation
The 5th Finance ReImagined Thailand 2026 brought together finance, technology and business leaders around a common theme: the finance function is changing, and its influence across the enterprise continues to grow. From AI and connected planning to workforce transformation, cybersecurity, capital allocation and strategic leadership, the conversations throughout the day demonstrated the increasingly interconnected responsibilities facing today’s CFOs. DigitalCFO Asia extends its sincere appreciation to all speakers, moderators, panellists, delegates, sponsors and partners whose expertise and participation contributed to the success of the conference.
Stay connected with DigitalCFO Asia as the Finance ReImagined journey continues across Asia in 2026. Explore upcoming conferences, conversations and opportunities to connect with the region’s finance community through DigitalNow Asia’s Upcoming Events 2026.
