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About True Blue

A specialist technology recruiter for Thailand and Southeast Asia.

True Blue exists because senior technology hiring in Thailand is a specialist problem, and most of the market treats it as a generalist one. We place mid-to-senior engineers, leaders and specialists across AI, software, cloud, cyber, data, digital, product, infrastructure, IT sales and corporate functions. We work for the companies building the region's technology, and the people who make it work.

The company
4 years in market

True Blue Recruitment has operated in Bangkok for four years, built deliberately as a focused technology practice rather than a general staffing desk. In that time we've become the recruiter senior technology teams across Thailand and the region come back to, because we cover their verticals properly, not as a sideline.

The founder
20 years in the field

James, our founder, has spent twenty years in technology recruitment, the last decade of it focused specifically on Thailand and Southeast Asia. That's two distinct things: two decades learning how technology hiring actually works, and ten years building the on-the-ground network and market knowledge that this region rewards. The company is four years old; the expertise behind it is not.

The team

Four specialists, ten specialisms

Each consultant is deep in their own disciplines first: years in them, and the senior people in them known personally. The range comes from working outward into the specialisms next door, which is how a data search reaches cloud and platform candidates without changing desks. A small, senior, native-English-speaking team, not a rotating desk of generalists.

Founder & Managing Director
Leadership & IT Sales

Twenty years in tech recruitment. Started in the UK, moved to Bangkok in 2016, and has worked the Thai and SEA market ever since.

James Hine

Founder & Managing Director
Leadership & IT Sales

Twenty years in tech recruitment. Started in the UK, moved to Bangkok in 2016, and has worked the Thai and SEA market ever since.

Focuses on leadership hiring, CTO, CIO and CISO, plus tech sales appointments for some of the largest tech firms operating here and globally.

Connect with James on LinkedInjames@trueblue.co.th

James is a rare find in Thailand, with his wealth of domain knowledge, connections and exemplary determination for honing-in on those hard to find talents.

CISO
Thai conglomerate

What truly sets James apart is his ability to identify high-caliber candidates for extremely niche and technically complex roles. These aren't your typical hires, yet James consistently delivers talent that not only meets our requirements but also aligns perfectly with our team's culture and values.

Sales and delivery leader
Global technology business

I have had the pleasure of engaging with James twice over the years, first in 2018 and again in 2023. Both times, James and his team demonstrated exceptional professionalism and expertise during our collaboration on CTO opportunities.

CTO
Thai public company

More where these came from: read James's recommendations on LinkedIn

Client Partner
AI, Software Engineering & Leadership

Ten years in technology recruitment and one of the deepest software engineering networks in Thailand.

Daniel Hardy

Client Partner
AI, Software Engineering & Leadership

Ten years in technology recruitment and one of the deepest software engineering networks in Thailand.

Current focus is AI hiring, from solutions and platform roles through to Forward Deployed Engineers.

Native level English, professional Thai.

Native level English, professional Thai

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIndan@trueblue.co.th

Dan and his team were instrumental in getting us the extremely talented engineers we needed. He was able to guide us through the complex legal and visa process as well as conducting reference checks in a thorough and comprehensive manner.

Cloud and cybersecurity leader
Singapore

I've known Daniel for almost 10 years, and he's consistently proven himself to be a hardworking and highly professional recruiter. His global network is extensive, and he has a deep understanding of the IT industry.

Technical consultant
Microsoft platform

He provided guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the entire hiring process, and supported me up until my first day. He was eager and quick to resolve any issues or concerns I had, making him one of the best recruiters I've worked with so far.

Senior Software Engineer
Thai software company

More where these came from: read Daniel's recommendations on LinkedIn

Senior Consultant
Data, Cyber Security & Product

Nine years in IT recruitment across data engineering, cyber security and product.

Phachara Charoensap

Senior Consultant
Data, Cyber Security & Product

Nine years in IT recruitment across data engineering, cyber security and product.

Three disciplines that most agencies split across three desks, which means the overlap between them, where the interesting candidates usually sit, tends to get missed.

Native Thai, professional English.

Native Thai, professional English

Connect with Phachara on LinkedInphachara@trueblue.co.th

Pond stands out for his perfect balance of professionalism and personal touch. He is incredibly fast, responsive, and deeply understands the technical landscape. What I appreciated most was how he went beyond just 'filling a role', he genuinely cared about the right fit for both parties.

Senior Product Specialist
Technology and innovation firm

He took the time to deeply understand my background, career goals, and personal motivations, and always acted in my best interest. His consultation skills, hiring insight, and negotiation expertise are outstanding. He doesn't push, he guides.

Cloud Architect

I had a chance to talk with K'Pond with a job opportunity, everything went really smooth and well. Appreciate all the follow-up on the job as well. I couldn't ask for any better help.

Data Science and Analytics professional

More where these came from: read Phachara's recommendations on LinkedIn

Senior Consultant
Software Engineering & IT Sales

Seven years in software engineering recruitment, mostly with startups and scaleups.

Pornpon Ongrattanasenee

Senior Consultant
Software Engineering & IT Sales

Seven years in software engineering recruitment, mostly with startups and scaleups.

Hiring the fifth engineer is a different job from hiring the fiftieth. Pornpon has spent most of the last seven years on the first kind.

Native level English, professional Thai.

Native level English, professional Thai

Connect with Pornpon on LinkedInpornpon@trueblue.co.th

He went above and beyond to help me prepare the resources and interviews. Dyon was consistently active in our communication, always friendly and approachable, and provided invaluable advice on everything from resume optimization to interview strategies.

Staff Engineer

He reached out to me with an opportunity that perfectly aligned with my technical background and career goals. What stood out to me was his deep understanding of the tech landscape and his proactive communication.

Senior Full Stack Developer
Payments technology company

Dyon is one of the most passionate recruiters ever. He always makes sure that everything goes fine and has made excellent suggestions. Starting from screening to interviewing to receive an offer. He took care of me for every step. He also is a very good negotiator.

Head of Engineering

More where these came from: read Pornpon's recommendations on LinkedIn

How we're different

What a specialist actually changes

We cover our specialisms, not the whole market

Each consultant works their own disciplines in depth and knows the people in them personally. That's why we reach the senior candidates who are never actively looking, not because we search harder, but because we already know them.

We lead with data, not opinion

Salary bands, time-to-hire, demand ratios: we give hiring managers real numbers from the market we work in daily, and we screen candidates on evidenced results rather than a strong interview. Specific claims, backed by data.

We're built for Thailand and SEA specifically

This isn't a global desk with a Bangkok address. A decade in this region means we understand its comp structures, work-permit realities, language mix and hiring pace: the details a generalist agency parachuting in consistently gets wrong.

We're direct about fit

If a role isn't one we can do well, or a candidate isn't right for a brief, we say so. Clients and candidates come back to us because the guidance is honest, whether or not it lands us the placement today.

By the numbers
7+
Years minimum in tech recruitment
Specialist consultants, each deep in their own disciplines, none with fewer than seven years in technology recruitment. We reach people who never touch a job board.
130+
Verified recommendations
Publicly checkable on LinkedIn, across all four consultants. Proof you can verify at the source, not just take from us.
10
Specialisms covered
AI, software, cloud, cyber, data, digital, product, infrastructure, IT sales and corporate functions, each properly covered.
Native EN
Multinational team
Native English-speaking consultants who work fluently across Thailand and the region.
Work with True Blue

Hiring technology talent, or looking for your next role?

Brief a role and we'll come back within one business day, or explore what's open right now across our specialisms.

Explore open roles