The cabinet has appointed Revenue Department chief Prasong Poontaneat as the new permanent secretary for finance after the position was left vacant by Somchai Sujjapongse.
Col Thaksada Saengkachan, a government spokeswoman, said the choice of Mr Prasong had been approved by the cabinet in a meeting on Tuesday.
Deputy Finance Minister Wisut Srisuphan said the new position will take effect on May 1.
"The choice was made in discussions between Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and me before it was forwarded to the cabinet," Post Today quoted him as saying.
"He has seniority and is suitable for the job," he added.
Mr Prasong has one year left in his bureaucratic career. His new position needs Royal endorsement by His Majesty the King.
The Finance Ministry has been without a permanent secretary since Mr Somchai abruptly resigned before the Songkran break in protest against the sudden decision by the finance minister to transfer him to the post of secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
Mr Somchai is currently on vacation with his family.
A source at the ministry said last week, after the resignation was confirmed, that Mr Somchai had fallen out of favour with the deputy prime minister because of his criticism of economic policy.
The cabinet also appointed Ekniti Nitithanprapas, the director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo), as the new Revenue Department chief from May.
Prapas Kong-Ied, the current director-general of the Public Debt Management Office, will replace Mr Ekniti at Sepo.
