It has been an immense privilege to work alongside Aung and the talented 2C2P team over the past few years. Our journey began during my M&A role at Ant International, where we forged a strategic partnership through our investment in 2C2P. Since then, our collaboration has evolved into a close partnership focused on unlocking synergies between 2C2P and the broader Ant ecosystem. Under Aung’s visionary leadership, 2C2P has achieved remarkable milestones, solving complex payment challenges for enterprise merchants across the region and earning its reputation as a trusted payments partner. These accomplishments stand as a testament to Aung’s unwavering dedication, strategic foresight, and ability to inspire teams to deliver excellence. On behalf of Antom and the entire Ant International family, I extend our deepest gratitude to Aung for his extraordinary contributions. We wish him continued success and fulfillment in his future endeavors. As we look ahead, I am confident that 2C2P’s legacy of innovation will thrive under new leadership. We will appoint a capable CEO to guide the team forward, building on the strong foundation Aung has established. Antom and 2C2P have built on our joint innovation and ecosystem reach to serve leading global and local merchants, driving their transformation and growth in Southeast Asia. Amidst the region’s evolving digital transformation and payments landscape, Antom and 2C2P will remain at the forefront of this evolution as one unified team. Our shared mission is to empower merchants of all sizes with cutting-edge solutions and world-class services, continuously fueling their growth so that they can thrive in a digital era. The road ahead is bright, and we are excited for what’s to come. Thank you, Aung, for your indelible impact. Here’s to new horizons!
After 22 years (approximately 8,000 days) at the helm of 2C2P, I will step down from the CEO role in the first week of April 2025 and pass the baton to the next CEO. Khun Piyachart, my former first customer, trusted partner, capable colleague, and dear friend, who is currently leading the Thailand operations as CEO of 2C2P Thailand, will also be stepping down. In April 2003, a few years before the term FinTech was coined, I founded the company in Bangkok, Thailand. I occupied a windowless, twenty-square-meter office with three desks at Software Park Thailand, managed by Dr. Rom Hiranpruk. I still vividly remember the days when I came up with the name 2C2P, wrote the first line of code of the platform, registered the domain name, drafted multiple logos, hired the first employee, refinanced the car to make salary payments on time, asked my wife to pawn her jewelry to pay rent, and pitched countless times for a seed investment. Eventually, I moved the headquarters of 2C2P to Singapore with the help of grants from the Singapore Government IMDA, occupying an office at the now-famous BLOCK71 Global. Some investors backed me—perhaps out of pity. Douglas Abrams, Dmitry Levit, Ryu Muramatsu, Melissa Guzy, Wei Hopeman 张晨为, Kareem Abdel Aziz, Henrik Bläute, David Avgi, Andi Dervishi On April 2022, 2C2P’s 19th birthday, I signed the papers, making it a subsidiary of Ant International. Thank you, Gary Liu and the Ant team, for your trust and the opportunity. For most of 22 years, I did not know where I was taking the company, but I set out anyway, armed with endless fantasized visions—most of which never materialized. Luckily, a few did. The journey was hugely rewarding and life-changing. I will cherish the memories of failures, triumphs, setbacks, and encounters. 2C2P has grown beyond my imagination, serving global, regional, and local merchants. This growth reflects the team’s hard work, the support of our partners, the understanding of regulators, and the trust of our customers. I thank everyone for their support on this journey. Above all, I couldn’t do my job without my family’s unconditional support and understanding. 8,000 days came and went. As I turned 50 this year, I am acutely aware that I probably have another 8,000 days left to enjoy if I am lucky and healthy. For the remaining 8,000 days, I intend to help society and learn something new, as if I have 8 billion days left. With 2C2P in good hands, I am thrilled to embark on new adventures. As a DBA Candidate at the Sasin School of Management, I will dedicate some of my time to my research: How Southeast Asia Startups Succeed and Fail—Understanding the Growth Gap. I am also working on my memoir, “Red Kite,” recounting my personal and entrepreneurial journey. And I can’t wait to spend more time flying my little plane to new places and meeting new people. Keep marching on 2C2P. #2C2P Always Further.
