Saturday, August 24, 2024 Mastercard appoints Winnie Wong as Country Manager for Thailand and Myanmar , bringing 20 years of Southeast Asia experience to drive growth and innovation. Mastercard has announced the appointment of Winnie Wong as the new Country Manager for Thailand and Myanmar. Based in Bangkok, Winnie will be responsible for overseeing Mastercard’s operations in these markets.
Her role will involve driving business development, implementing innovative payment solutions for both businesses and consumers, and expanding commercial solutions for corporations and SMEs. With over two decades of experience in the payments and banking sectors across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, Winnie brings a wealth of expertise to her new role. Since joining Mastercard in 2013, she has collaborated with governments and companies to advance B2B platforms, improving the efficiency and transparency of cross-border trade throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Winnie Wong’s move to Thailand comes at a pivotal time as the country undergoes substantial digital transformation and intensifies its focus on enhancing SME growth. Thailand’s digital economy is projected to reach between US$100 billion and US$165 billion in gross merchandise value by 2030, with digital payments expected to surge to US$310 billion in gross transaction value by 2030. Concurrently, SMEs constitute 99.
5% of businesses in Thailand, and the Commerce Ministry aims to increase their contribution to GDP from 35% to 40% by 2027. Leveraging her extensive experience in commercial payments solutions, Winnie will play a crucial role in advancing digital innovations for SMEs and fostering their expansion in her new position. Winnie Wong also serves as the Country Manager for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, a position she has held since 2019.
In this role, she has been instrumental in building a secure payments ecosystem across these markets and has played a key role in working with regulators and stakeholders to foster a cashless, financially inclusive society in Vietnam. Additionally, Winnie champions Mastercard’s global commitment to women’s inclusion and empowerment. She notably spearheaded the launch of Mastercard Strive Women in Vietnam, in partnership with CARE, a prominent international humanitarian organization.
This initiative aims to enhance the financial health and resilience of micro and small businesses led by women, with a target of supporting two million entrepreneurs in Vietnam over the next four years. Winnie also holds the position of Vice-Chair for AmCham Vietnam. Her appointment follows the departure of Jonathan Wood, who returned to the UK for personal reasons.
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