Treasury Shakeup Announced: New Revenue Department Chief Named as Speculation Swirls

The Treasury Ministry has launched a major reshuffle following Kulya Tantiimit's resignation as director-general of the Revenue Department at age 54, forgoing the opportunity to advance to permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nititanprapast has issued orders establishing a succession line of nine officials to serve as acting director-general beginning May 3, 2025, including: Somsak Anantavat, advisor on energy business tax collection strategy; Kriengsak Prasong Sukanjanh, efficiency advisor; Phinyu Kamneutlom, IT and communications advisor; Salakchit Pongsirijanth, financial transaction tax strategy advisor; Chitra Neesanant, tax base development advisor; and four deputy directors-general including Phawatwat Luongwilai, Surayuth Kobkitpanichphol, Krueda Kritiyachotipakon, and Khanruck Suwannaram.

Meanwhile, speculation surrounds the appointment of the next permanent director-general, with several candidates under consideration including Winit Visetsuwannaphum, current director of the Office of Fiscal Policy, and Patricia Mongkolvanit, director-general of the Comptroller General's Department. However, the frontrunner appears to be Pornchai Thiravech, director-general of the Excise Department, who is senior and well-regarded by government leadership. If Pornchai advances to the Revenue Department post, candidates for his vacant position include Thibadee Wattanakul, director of the State Enterprise Policy Committee, and Akkrut Santhayanan, director-general of the Treasury Department who previously advised on tax collection development.