United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited receives distinctions at Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026

The company demonstrated sustained leadership strength and organisational commitment.

The United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited received recognition for Thailand Executive of the Year - Banking and Thailand Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year - Banking at the Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026. The awards reflects documented leadership outcomes and an organisation-wide initiative assessed under the programme’s banking criteria in Thailand.

Driving workforce transformation through disciplined people leadership

The Thailand Executive of the Year - Banking recognition was awarded to Sasiwimol Arayawattanapong, Country Function Head of Human Resources. She led workforce transformation during the integration of Citibank’s consumer business in 2024, alongside workforce planning, talent acquisition, and HR system development.

During the assessment period, the Strategic Workforce Plan reached a 93% completion rate, whilst all Operational Day 1 (OD1) critical roles were filled, including the appointment of 43 senior leaders. Direct sourcing activities reduced reliance on external agencies and generated 2024 cost savings of THB21.9m. Recruitment capacity was expanded to support the hiring of 300 contact centre staff within two months following the integration, supporting operational continuity.

Training delivery averaged 7.76 man-days per employee in 2024 across 66 SEED competency programmes. Succession planning identified 22 employees for future critical roles. Employee engagement reached 86% during the assessment period, whilst the HR function’s engagement score increased from 81% to 89%. HR system enhancements included mobile access and biometric login for Workday, the rollout of the Workday Recruitment Module, and the introduction of an AI-supported digital assistant for HR processes.

Translating diversity and inclusion policy into measurable workforce practice

The Thailand Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year - Banking award recognised the application of diversity and inclusion policies across recruitment, employment, development, and workplace practices. Recruitment followed formal non-discriminatory policies aligned with international labour standards, with employment decisions based on role requirements, experience, and capability.

The workforce included employees from multiple nationalities and age groups, with women holding more than 60% of senior management roles. Structured feedback channels supported employee participation and issue escalation. Employment models included partnerships that created roles for people with disabilities and flexible engagement arrangements for retirees to support workforce continuity.

Development pathways addressed different career stages through graduate programmes, management associate tracks, and leadership acceleration initiatives. Workplace facilities included wellness areas, lactation rooms, and ergonomic workspaces. Workforce outcomes recorded during the assessment period included an overall engagement score 2024 of 86% and a talent retention rate of 97%.

The Asian Management Excellence Awards celebrates the finest business leaders, innovators, and companies in Asia, recognising exceptional achievements in employee engagement programmes, diversity and inclusion projects, and health and wellness initiatives.

The Asian Management Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].