Leaders in Southeast Asia Special

Southeast Asia Showcasing Resilience & Steady Growth

Southeast Asia is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic regions, powered by rapid economic expansion, digital adoption, and a new generation of visionary leaders who are shaping its future. From technology and finance to manufacturing, logistics, and sustainable development, leaders across Southeast Asia are redefining how industries operate and how societies progress. Their influence extends far beyond organizational boundaries - they are transforming national capabilities, accelerating regional integration, and positioning Southeast Asia as a global hub of innovation and competitiveness.
What sets Southeast Asian leaders apart is their ability to navigate complexity with agility. Operating in markets marked by diverse cultures, regulatory environments, and economic priorities, they excel at driving growth amid uncertainty.

Southeast Asia Showcasing Resilience & Steady Growth
By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor
Southeast Asia's economy is characterised as a dynamic and swiftly growing region. The economy is led by key nations including Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, showing resilience post-pandemic with strong growth in 2025

Mobilizing AI for Sustainable Future through Technology Leadership
By: Ajit Kulkarni, Vice President and India Market Leader, AVEVA
Research shows that globally, 75 percent of leaders will prioritize industrial intelligence solutions for their organization in the next year — indicating a significant shift in the landscape.

Endpoint to Edge - Building Resilient, Secure Digital Ecosystem

By: Nan Hao Maguire, Field CTO, APJC, Cloudflare

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, modern businesses rely heavily on interconnected digital ecosystems to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage.

Establishing a Data Lake in the Age of GenAI: A Guide

By: Spencer Kimball, Co-founder & CEO, Cockroach Labs

Despite progress in data technology, many organizations continue to face challenges in accessing outdated mainframe information.

Leadership strategies to deal with the Challenges of Energy Transition

By: Baroruchi Mishra, Group CEO of Nauvata Energy Transition (NET) Enterprise Pvt. Ltd

In the current dynamic environment, the energy sector finds itself at a crucial juncture. As global demands increase and environmental issues

Generative AI in 2025: Transitioning from Hype to Business Transformation

By: Ed Anuff, Chief Product Officer, DataStax

Generative AI is no longer just a futuristic concept; it is transforming how businesses innovate and interact with customers.

Empowering Next Generation Revenue Leaders: The CRO Perspective

By: Ram Prebagar, Chief Revenue Officer-FSS & IMS Business, TVS Electronics (TVSE)

Specializing in cloud and digital infrastructure, workplace services, and technology consulting

Leaders in Southeast Asia Special - 2025

Southeast Asia is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic regions, powered by rapid economic expansion, digital adoption, and a new generation of visionary leaders who are shaping its future. From technology and finance to manufacturing, logistics, and sustainable development, leaders across Southeast Asia are redefining how industries operate and how societies progress. Their influence extends far beyond organizational boundaries - they are transforming national capabilities, accelerating regional integration, and positioning Southeast Asia as a global hub of innovation and competitiveness.

What sets Southeast Asian leaders apart is their ability to navigate complexity with agility. Operating in markets marked by diverse cultures, regulatory environments, and economic priorities, they excel at driving growth amid uncertainty. They embrace technology not as a tool, but as a strategic differentiator - leveraging digital transformation, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and data-driven decision-making to scale their organizations and unlock new opportunities. Their leadership style blends business acumen with social responsibility, ensuring that progress is inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with the region’s long-term ambitions.

Across ASEAN economies, these leaders are driving significant transitions: building resilient supply chains, strengthening talent ecosystems, advancing green energy commitments, and nurturing startup innovation. They understand that the future of Southeast Asia lies in collaboration, cross-border partnerships, and regional competitiveness. As the region continues to attract global investment and expand its influence, their role becomes even more critical. Leaders in Southeast Asia are not only shaping today’s success story - they are crafting the foundation for a smarter, more sustainable, and globally influential Southeast Asian future.

CEO Insights Asia in this issue presents a spotlight of ‘Leaders in Southeast Asia Special - 2025' featuring leaders who have leveraged their extensive industry expertise and experience in offering effective skills to the market. The following list has been prepared after being closely scrutinized by a distinguished panel of judges including CXOs, analysts and our editorial board. We recognize their valuable contribution to the ever expanding and competitive market and their ability to sustain themselves and emerge as top contestants through their reliable knowledge.

Leaders in Southeast Asia Special - 2025

Company Management	Company Name	Company Description
Deborah Ong, Independent Director	Sats	She has more than 30 years of public accounting experience and provides audit and advisory services to some of the firm's largest clients
Hafiidz Amer, Chief Strategy Officer	Exchange 106, TRX	He leads the company’s corporate turnaround, governance alignment, and digital transformation, steering Malaysia’s iconic skyscraper into a new era of strategic growth, transformation, and value creation
Inanc Balci, Co-Founder & GP	Crestone Venture Capital	With a background in entrepreneurship and venture capital, he brings a wealth of experience in scaling innovative businesses across various sectors
Jason Su, Independent Director	Serial Achieva	He is responsible for setting documentation and processes within the company, including HR, finance, investment, exit, and regulatory compliance processes
Jeannie Jarina, Managing Director	Technofab Steel Co.	A leader in stainless steel fabrication, bridging traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to deliver innovative, precision-engineered solutions that make a lasting impact across industries
Kiron K, Chief Strategy Officer - APAC	PHD Media	A communication strategist with experience in marketing and advertising, brand communication strategy, software engineering, and content writing
Lim Tai Toon, Independent Director	Medinex	A leader with 45 years of experience across corporate restructuring, entrepreneurship, and academia, committed to making an impact and developing future leaders
Pasu Akaniwan, Founder & CEO	Noc Care	He specializes in product development, go-to-market strategy, operations, fundraising, team building, and execution under pressure
Satpal Singh Dhillon, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer	PLUS Malaysia	He has expertise in risk management, strategic planning, transformation, corporate governance, change management, sustainability, process improvement, and more
Sawita Suwansawat, Founder & Managing Partner	MSC International Law Office	With over 18 years of experience advising clients across sectors, she is recognized for her expertise and serves as an independent director

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