Marketing Southeast Asia

Google Cloud names new country heads for Thailand, Indonesia to accelerate AI adoption

by Sharona Nicole Semilla

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June 24, 2026

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Thailand & Indonesia – Google Cloud has appointed Saruj Thipsena as Country Manager for Thailand and Karim Siregar as Country Director for Indonesia, as the tech giant doubles down on Southeast Asia’s growing appetite for cloud and artificial intelligence solutions.

The appointments come as organisations across the region move beyond AI experimentation and seek practical applications that can deliver measurable business outcomes.

Thipsena will oversee Google Cloud’s go-to-market strategy, customer and partner engagement, and business operations in Thailand.

Reporting to Mark Micallef, Managing Director for Southeast Asia, he will work closely with organisations across the country to help them leverage Google’s AI portfolio as they transition into what the company describes as the “Agentic Era”.

He joins Google Cloud from Thailand-based AI and data analytics company STelligence, where he served as executive director and chief technology officer.

During his tenure, he led projects helping organisations deploy AI and data-driven technologies to solve business challenges, including the AI deployment for Thailand’s TH2OECD National Project.

Prior to STelligence, Thipsena held senior leadership positions at Microsoft Thailand, including deputy managing director of the Cloud Solution Unit and chief information security officer, where he guided enterprises through cloud adoption, cybersecurity initiatives and generative AI exploration.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Indonesia, Google Cloud has named veteran technology executive Karim Siregar as Country Director.

He will lead local operations and market strategy while working with organisations ranging from digital-native startups to established enterprises to accelerate AI transformation.

Siregar most recently served as chief information officer at PT BFI Finance Indonesia.

He was also the founding president director of PT Bank Jago and CEO of Dkatalis Digital Labs, where he helped establish one of Indonesia’s earliest ecosystem-embedded digital banking models.

His three-decade career also includes leadership roles at Bank BTPN, Bank Danamon and Bank Mega, with experience spanning financial inclusion, transactional infrastructure and enterprise modernisation.

Mark Micallef said both markets represent significant opportunities for Google Cloud’s regional ambitions.

“Thailand is a critical growth engine for Southeast Asia’s digital economy, and our US$1 billion investment in Thailand and new cloud region in Bangkok reflects our absolute commitment to serving the country and our customers here,” he said.

He added that Thipsena’s technical expertise and experience supporting enterprise transformation made him well-positioned to deepen ecosystem collaborations in Thailand.

In Indonesia, Micallef noted that organisations are increasingly seeking scalable AI deployments capable of delivering immediate value.

“As organisations look to move past the initial phase of AI experimentation, the mandate has shifted entirely to scalable, real-world deployment that drives immediate value for their end-users,” he said.

“Karim’s exceptional track record of building, governing, and scaling digital-first institutions in Indonesia makes him the perfect leader for this next chapter.”

For his part, Thipsena said successful digital transformation depends on balancing innovation with trust.

“Thailand has the momentum to shape the region’s digital future, and Google Cloud is committed to being an open, collaborative partner in that journey,” he said.

Similarly, Siregar emphasised that technology adoption must remain grounded in solving real customer problems.

“Technology only matters when it simplifies lives and creates practical, measurable value for real users,” he said. “I am thrilled to partner side-by-side with our Indonesian customers and local ecosystem to accelerate a secure, responsible digital future that benefits the broader economy.”

The appointments underscore Google Cloud’s growing investment in Southeast Asia, where demand for AI-powered solutions continues to accelerate across sectors ranging from banking and retail to telecommunications and startups.

The company said its AI capabilities, anchored by Gemini Enterprise, are helping organisations reimagine operations, boost workforce productivity and unlock new avenues of growth as they prepare for an increasingly agent-driven future.