Page 74 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 6 | August - September 2024

BEYOND the

Transaction

Prom Sirisant, the Thailand Country Manager at
American Express, on paying forward a culture of genuine
care in the premium payments space.
B Y AIDEN JE WELLE GONZ ALE S

It’s about setting high

hen I first met Prom Sirisant, the Thailand
Country Manager at American Express, I found expectations, and all of us
him an intriguing study in contrasts – Thai-born
but educated in four continents; completely self-assured but still must commit to excellence
humble; assured in his vision for the company and intimately
familiar with the premium segment, yet someone whose favourite - but how you get there is
part-time job memory was making coffee for customers in a café. up to you.
This, I soon learn, was a reflection of American Express itself:
renowned as one of the biggest players in the premium payments
space, yet no task is too small to go above and beyond their
customer’s expectations; with over 140 million cards around the Having started his education at Bangkok Patana School before
world, and yet a company that values connecting with each and going to a boarding school in England, then his undergraduate in
every customer on a human level. Macquarie University, an MBA at the University of Technology
Sydney (UTS) and his Certificate of Management Excellence
It was no surprise, therefore, to learn that this “locking in” of (CME) in Harvard Business School, Prom talks about how his
fundamentals was what drew Prom to American Express in the “hunger for experiences” started young, from learning how to
first place: “Their values aligned almost perfectly with my family adapt to a different culture, to working a range of jobs while he
values,” he reminisces fondly. “My father always told us to have was studying and during school breaks, including working for the
three things: a good heart; high integrity; and strong determination, United Nations in New York. He brings this hunger for more to
that is, work hard. These were always in the back of my mind. American Express and to Thailand itself, vowing to make a positive
American Express has those values, what we call our Blue Box impact on both the company and the country. “I love this country,”
values. We want people to do what’s right (have a good heart), he says, simply. “While I’ve lived abroad, I am from Thailand, and
achieve high excellence (have strong determination), and have good I want to ensure that I help the country while I help the company.”
leadership behaviour, which requires authenticity and integrity.” And this, he posits, starts with an attitude of genuine care.

74 | MASALA MAGAZINE AUG-SEP 2024