Aerial view of the Yangon American International School campus surrounded by trees.

About ASia Strategic

Over a decade of building and operating resilient businesses across Emerging Asia

Key events and milestones

Founding of ASIA
Singapore
2013
Launch of Ostello Bello
Myanmar
2014
Launch of Wall Street English
Myanmar
2017
Listed on London Stock Exchange
Launch of Auston
Myanmar
2018
Acquisition of EXERA
Myanmar
Launch of Yangon American Int'l School
Myanmar
2019
Acquisition of Wall Street English
Vietnam
2020
Launch of Kids&Us
Myanmar
Vietnam
2022
Launch of Logiscool
Myanmar
Vietnam
2023
Launch of EXERA
Vietnam
2024
Regional Expansion into Thailand
Thailand
2026
About

Asia Strategic began operations in Myanmar in 2013, expanded into Vietnam in 2020 and Thailand in 2026. Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2017, the Group is supported by a diverse international investor base.

7
Brands
11
Businesses
3,100+
People employed

Our portfolio spans English language learning, coding and technology, tertiary education, K–12 international schools, as well as risk management and hospitality services.

Through this platform, we are building a resilient, high-quality business focused on creating long-term value across the region.

Young children holding plush toys and smiling during an early-years learning session.

Group Leadership

Asia Strategic has assembled an experienced, aligned, and execution-focused management team on the ground, supported by high-calibre talent across the organisation. Together, we deliver impactful outcomes for the communities we serve across Emerging Asia.

Portrait of Enrico Cesenni, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Enrico Cesenni, OSI
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Board of Directors
,
Management
  • Nearly a decade in investment banking and over 7 years in M&A in London before founding the Group in 2013
  • Covered financial institutions at Lehman Brothers and Nomura
  • Focused on consumer and retail sectors at Goldman Sachs
  • Founded MACAN in 2012, holding a portfolio of operating assets across Europe and the Far East, including Asia Strategic Holdings
  • MBA from INSEAD; bachelor's degree in Institutions and Financial Markets Management from Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
  • Member of the Young Presidents' Organization
  • Senior Accredited Director with the Singapore Institute of Directors
  • Conferred the honorific title of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy (OSI) by the President of the Italian Republic
  • LinkedIn Profile
Portrait of Jonathan Kolb, Chief Financial and Investment Officer
Jonathan Kolb
,
CFA, CPA
Chief Financial and Investment Officer
Board of Directors
,
Management
  • Group CFO and Investment Director; joined Asia Strategic in 2015
  • Led the Group's early efforts to establish operations in Myanmar
  • Relocated to Vietnam in 2021 and to Thailand in 2026 to spearhead expansion into new sectors and geographies
  • Over 8 years in finance prior to Asia Strategic, including 5 years with Center Square Investment Management (Philadelphia and Singapore)
  • Earlier career as commercial lending underwriter at Bank of America in Chicago
  • MBA from INSEAD; bachelor's degrees in Finance and Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • CFA charterholder and registered CPA in the state of Illinois
  • Certificate from IMD for completing the High Performance Leadership program
  • LinkedIn Profile
Portrait of Alain Thibault, Chief Operating Officer
Alain Thibault
Chief Operating Officer
Management
  • Joined Asia Strategic in August 2018 as CEO of Wall Street English and Auston
  • Over 23 years of expertise developing and transforming operational capabilities across multiple industries
  • Focus on enabling scale, improving efficiency, and driving insights and transparency
  • Expanded responsibilities in 2020 to CEO of Wall Street English Vietnam and group-level oversight of Technology and Marketing
  • Based in Asia since 2009; started regional career with Accenture
  • Senior management roles at Lazada and AirAsia, driving scalability and innovation through people development and digitalization
  • MBA from INSEAD; Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal
  • Certificate from IMD for completing the High Performance Leadership program
  • LinkedIn Profile
Portrait of Michael Hall, Chief Human Resources Officer
Michael Hall
Chief Human Resources Officer
Management
  • Joined Asia Strategic in 2020 with over 23 years of HR experience across Southeast Asia, Australia, and the UK
  • Leads the HR function across the Group, ensuring effective service delivery and implementing group-level HR initiatives
  • Relocated to Myanmar in 2011, holding management roles within multinational companies
  • Developed HR functions and workforce strategies for a large-scale resources project with POSCO
  • Delivered HR strategy for Wave Money, now Myanmar's most successful fintech company
  • Earlier career in Australia in the oil and gas industry with BG Group, a ConocoPhillips joint venture
  • Certificate from IMD for completing the High Performance Leadership program
  • LinkedIn Profile
1/6