A profile of Predee Daochai, former Minister of Finance under the 'Uncle Tu' era, who held the position for only 20 days before resigning, now amid rumors of being nominated to serve as Minister of Energy in Anutin's government.
On 18 February 2026, as Anutin Charnvirakul's government formation progressed, a leaked list of cabinet members emerged. It is expected that Anutin will serve simultaneously as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Meanwhile, Chaiyachon Chidchob, secretary-general of the Bhumjaithai Party and former Minister of Digital Economy and Society, is likely to be reassigned to the Ministry of Interior. Sophon Sarum, currently Deputy Prime Minister and a key figure in Buriram, is expected to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. Another position attracting attention is the Minister of Energy, with reports indicating that Predee Daochai is trusted to assume this role.
Predee Daochai was born on 9 September 1958 and is currently about 67 years old. He is married to Ratana Daochai and they have three children. He graduated with a second-class honors bachelor's degree in law from Thammasat University. Additionally, he earned a Thai Bar qualification from the Institute of Legal Education of the Thai Bar Association and holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in comparative law from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States.
Predee is recognized for his expertise in law and business administration, which laid a strong foundation for managing financial institutions. His name is almost synonymous with Kasikornbank (KBank), where he worked for over 35 years. He began his career in Kasikornbank's legal department in 1982 and rose through various key positions, ultimately being appointed Managing Director in 2013. He also served multiple terms as chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association and chaired the Joint Public-Private Sector Committee (JPP), playing a significant role in advising the government on economic policy.
In 2020, amid Thailand's COVID-19 crisis, Predee was invited to join General Prayut Chan-o-cha's government as Minister of Finance (August 2020), with hopes he would help the government recover from the pandemic crisis. However, his tenure lasted only about 20 days—he was sworn in on 12 August 2020 and resigned on 1 September 2020—citing health reasons. He had experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a warning sign of stroke, attributed to stress and lack of rest due to the heavy responsibilities during the economic crisis. His family urged him to step down for treatment. Another narrative involved conflicts over senior civil service appointments within the Ministry of Finance, clashing with politicians from coalition parties, especially with Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat. During a cabinet meeting in Rayong regarding the appointment of the Excise Department director-general, Predee supported Lawaran Saengsanit (then Director of Fiscal Policy Office) for the post, while politicians favored another candidate. This led to disputes and the agenda being withdrawn. Predee, an outsider minister from the private sector and legal-banking background, adhered to seniority and merit-based personnel decisions, which conflicted with political appointments, causing discomfort in his work environment.
Nonetheless, Predee is a highly regarded legal expert, known for rigorous legal knowledge and financial risk management skills. He is widely respected in business and capital markets for his integrity and professional competence. He has been appointed to the boards of numerous companies, serving as chairman of PTTGC, independent director of BBL, ADVANC, BDMS, former CEO of The Mall Group, and board member of the Siam Paragon group.
He also held the positions of independent director and chairman of Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited (GULF) before officially becoming director and chairman on 9 January 2026.
Following the formation of Anutin Charnvirakul's government, after the Bhumjaithai Party's overwhelming election victory securing over 180 seats and surpassing the Pheu People Party to become the second largest party, Predee Daochai's name has been floated as a candidate to serve as Minister of Energy.