Uttama Savanayana

Uttama Savanayana
อุตตม สาวนายน
Uttama Savayana in 2016
Finance Minister of Thailand
In office 10 July 2019 – 15 July 2020
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Apisak Tantivorawong
Succeeded by	Predee Daochai
Leader of the Palang Pracharath Party
In office 29 September 2018 – 27 June 2020
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Prawit Wongsuwan
Minister of Industry
In office 16 December 2016 – 29 January 2019
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Atchaka Sibunruang
Succeeded by	Suriya Juangroongruangkit
Minister of Information and Communication Technology
In office 19 August 2015 – 12 September 2016
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Pornchai Rujiprapa
Succeeded by	Prajin Juntong (acting)
Personal details
Born	(1960-05-19) 19 May 1960 Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	Palang Pracharath Party (2018-2020), (2023-)
Other political affiliations	Sang Anakot Thai (2022-2023)
Spouse	Itchaya Savanayana
Alma mater	Brown University University of Massachusetts Amherst
Profession	Businessman professor politician

Uttama Savanayana (Thai: อุตตม สาวนายน, born 19 May 1960) is a Thai politician. He served as Minister of Finance in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. He resigned in July 2020. On 19 January 2022, Savanayana formed a new party called Sang Anakot Thai (Building Thailand's Future) along with Sontirat Sontijirawong.

Early life and education

Uttam Saanayana was born on 19 May 1960 to be the son of Lek and Ya Yee Savanayana. He graduated from primary and secondary school from Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School and bachelor's degree in electrical engineering From Brown University, USA. Then he studied Master of Business Administration (Finance and International Business) at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and Ph.D. in Financial Management, Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Careers

Uttama is a private financial institution manager. He worked as a teacher in a higher education institution and became Deputy Dean of Academic Department and Lecturer in the Faculty of Finance, National Institute of Development Administration and was appointed rector of Bangkok University in June 2015. He was an advisor to the Minister of Finance, Somkid Jatusripitak and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister's Office. Later in 2015, he was appointed Minister of Information and Communication Technology in the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha but submitted a resignation letter on 12 September 2016 to have the appointment of the Digital Economy and Society Minister, a ministry to be established. He was appointed an advisor to the Prime Minister on 15 September 2016. In December 2016, he was appointed Minister of Industry and Minister of Finance respectively.

Royal decorations

• 2017 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
• 2020 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand