Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn

Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn (Thai: ชัยวุฒิ ธนาคมานุสรณ์) is a Thai politician. He served as Minister of Digital Economy and Society in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.^[1] He replaced Puttipong Punnakanta who was removed from office after being found guilty of insurrection during protests that led to the 2014 coup d'état.^[2]

Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn
ชัยวุฒิ ธนาคมานุสรณ์
Minister of Digital Economy and Society
In office 23 March 2021 – 1 September 2023
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Puttipong Punnakanta
Succeeded by	Prasert Jantararuangtong
Personal details
Born	(1971-11-02) 2 November 1971 (age 53) Sing Buri, Thailand
Political party	Palang Pracharath
Other political affiliations	Chart Thai
Spouse	Kankanit Haewsantati (divorced)
Alma mater	Chulalongkorn University University of Southern California
Profession	Politician

Early life and education

Chaiwut was born on 2 November 1971 in Bang Phutsa Sub-district, Mueang Sing Buri District, Singburi Province. Chaiwut graduated a high school education from Triam Udom Suksa School and graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering from Chulalongkorn University and then Master of the Engineering from University of Southern California, USA and Master of Arts in Economics from Chulalongkorn University.^[3][4]

Careers

Chaiwut used to be a lecturer in the Faculty of Business Administration at Rangsit University and used to work at Kasikorn Bank. He worked as an Engineer at Gulf JP Company Limited and was the Executive Director of Community Relations, Gulf Energy Development Public Company.^[5][6]

During his tenure as Digital economy minister, in 2023, personal data of 55 million Thais were leaked to hackers, to which he responded by blocking the website and threatening to hunt them down.^[7]

Royal decorations

• 2020 – Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant^[8]
• 2008 – Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand^[9]