Henry Henderson
Tola Chea, ezecom’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and one of the key figures steering the company’s evolution in Cambodia’s rapidly advancing digital economy. In their conversation, Tola shares how his background in finance shapes his leadership approach, where ezecom fits within the broader digital, communications, and technology (DCT) sector, and what trends will define Cambodia’s next digital leap.
Henry: You’ve worked across Australia and Southeast Asia. How did you come to your current position with ezecom? What unique perspectives do you bring to Cambodia’s fast-changing digital market?
Tola: My career started in banking in Australia before moving into corporate finance in Cambodia, where I worked on some of the country’s largest and most complex M&A transactions. Although both roles sat under the broader finance umbrella, they demanded a deep appreciation for technology as a critical enabler of successful execution.
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Over the past 11 years back in Cambodia, I’ve seen the banking sector advance at remarkable speed, often leapfrogging traditional steps, from internet banking to mobile banking, and from contactless cards to KHQR, all made possible through rapid technological adoption.
After two decades in banking and finance, ezecom represented a natural next step, a place to apply the same discipline, innovation mindset, and technology-driven approach to a fast-growing digital market shaped by one of the youngest and most connected populations in the region.
Background in finance and mergers & acquisitions
Henry: How has your background in finance and mergers & acquisitions shaped your approach to driving growth in the digital, communications, and technology (DCT) industry?
Tola: ezecom was one of Cambodia’s first ISPs and has built a strong enterprise customer base over its 18-year history. In recent years, both ezecom and the wider industry have expanded into digital business solutions, yet digital demand in Cambodia is growing faster than local supply capabilities can keep up.
In banking, finance, and M&A, the focus is always on value creation, and strategic growth can drive innovation far more quickly than organic growth alone.
Henry: With the growing importance of digital ecosystems, where does ezecom fits into Cambodia’s digital business landscape? How is your group contributing to the development of digital infrastructure and economy?
Tola: Interestingly, the enterprise business I lead already contains all the essential components of a holistic digital, communications, and technology proposition; one of the key synergies of being part of the Royal Group.
Within this DCT division, our capabilities span from mobile and connectivity, to data centers, and core communications infrastructure. Together, these allow us to develop innovative business solutions for our Enterprise customers to better serve and connect with their customers. There’s much more to come in this space.
Achieving globally recognised cybersecurity certifications
Henry: ezecom has recently received a number of globally recognised cyber security certifications. What was the motivation for gaining this accreditation and how do these certifications fit into your business strategy?
Tola: Trust is the foundation of digital business today. Achieving globally recognised cybersecurity certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001 signals to customers and regulators that we take data protection and privacy seriously.
Beyond compliance, these standards embed global best practices into how we design, operate, and secure our services. It’s a key step in our evolution from being “a network provider” to becoming “a trusted digital partner.”
Henry: Cambodia has seen an explosion in connectivity in the past five years, transforming the nation’s business landscape. Looking ahead, what are the trends and developments in the digital space to watch and how will ezecom stay on the leading edge in this space?
Tola: Cambodia’s next digital leap will be driven by three major trends:
- Cyber resilience: as businesses recognise that connectivity without protection is no longer acceptable;
- Edge and cloud computing: bringing compute power and AI capabilities closer to users;
- Platform integration (APIs): enabling interoperable, secure services across sectors from fintech to logistics.
Mobile and fixed connectivity have converged and become commodities, which is why ezecom and the broader DCT division are investing ahead of the curve. Our focus is on pairing robust infrastructure with secure, intelligent services, because that’s what’s needed to enable businesses to scale digitally with confidence.
