Thai Life Insurance Plc. CEO honoured at Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026

Chai Chaiyawan was recognised for leadership that shaped workforce capability, management culture, and business growth.

Chai Chaiyawan, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Life Insurance Plc., received the Thailand Executive of the Year - Life Insurance category at the Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026. The category assessed individual leadership impact within the life insurance sector, with evaluation focused on organisational direction, people management practices, and long-term business outcomes.

The award reflected a leadership record developed through operational responsibility and long-term internal tenure. Mr Chai joined Thai Life Insurance Plc. in 1982 and held roles across investment, branch management, accounting, administration, human resources, and agency supervision. This cross-functional experience preceded his appointment as President in 2004 and his subsequent elevation to Chief Executive Officer in 2021.

People management operated as a defined component of business strategy during Mr Chai’s tenure. Collaboration and shared responsibility were established as operating requirements within management practice. Emphasis was placed on structured communication, role definition, and accountability at the team level, with authority applied through alignment of objectives and consistent execution.

Workforce development remained an operational priority. Upskilling, reskilling, and cross-skilling programmes addressed capability requirements across agility, digital proficiency, leadership readiness, interpersonal effectiveness, and resilience. These initiatives supported a measured organisational shift towards greater agility, with expectations around teamwork and initiative applied across functions. Digital tools were integrated into sales and operational activity alongside established face-to-face engagement, allowing updated working methods to operate within existing customer interaction practices.

Performance management relied on KPIs and OKRs as structured reference points for evaluation and progress tracking. Target setting and outcome reviews reflected established cultural and interpersonal considerations within the organisation. This approach aligned with the company’s stated positioning, “To be A Value-Driven Life Insurance Company of Sustainability.” Business activity continued to focus on life insurance, health insurance, and financial planning offerings aligned with different life stages, alongside management attention to employee wellbeing and organisational responsibility.

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].