Zaw Zaw
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Max Zaw Zaw
Zaw Zaw | |
|---|---|
ဇော်ဇော် | |
.jpg) U Zaw Zaw in 2020 | |
| Born | 22 August 1967 Irrawaddy Division, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Other names | Phoe Zaw Max Zaw Zaw |
| Alma mater | University of Rangoon |
| Occupation | Chairman Max Myanmar Group of Companies |
| Spouse | Htay Htay Khaing |
| Children | Ye Mann Zaw, Eaint Hmu Zaw |
| Relatives | Kan Myint (father-in-law) |
| Awards | Thiri Pyanchi Award ASEAN Goodwill Award State Excellence Award AFC Distinguished Service Award |
Zaw Zaw (Burmese: ဇော်ဇော်) is a Burmese business magnate, banker, investor, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Max Myanmar Group of Companies, a major conglomerate.[1] Zaw Zaw has served as the president of the Myanmar Football Federation since 2005,[2] and vice president of ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[3][4]
Zaw Zaw was born in Yegyi Township, Ayeyarwady Region in 1967. He graduated from University of Yangon, majoring in Mathematics.[5]
Business
He started his career in the early 1990s when he was living in Japan, with a part-time job washing dishes in Ginza. In 1993, he founded Max Myanmar, initially as an exporter of used Japanese cars to his home country. He reportedly had close ties to key figures from the former ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council, including Maung Aye and Than Shwe's grandson Nay Shwe Thway Aung. Through his relationships, Zaw Zaw has won concessions and import licenses, including most of the country's car and motorcycle imports licenses, as well as import and distribution licenses for fuel. In 1996, he went into construction sector, one year later, he started Hotel Business with Hotel Max Yangon. His company won several bids to construction projects in Naypyidaw, the country's new capital, including a stadium for the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.[6]
In 2009, Zaw Zaw suffered a major setback, when he was blacklisted by the United States, being one of around 200 individuals and companies that had sanctions against doing business with them imposed, under a Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List regulated by the U.S. Treasury. His attempt to enter the Singaporean stock market as an international businessman by bidding over Aussino Group Ltd. was not successful. Singaporean stock market regulators were concerned at this and rejected the bid in January 2013.[7] Annual revenue of Max Myanmar Group was about US $500 million in the early 2010s.[7] In 2010, he established the Ayeyarwady Foundation to provide funding for charity projects such as building schools and medical institutions.[8]
He was delisted from SDN list by the US Treasury in 2016.[9]
Sports
Football
Zaw Zaw has been serving as the chairman of the Myanmar Football Federation since 2005.[2]
He also served as an Executive Committee Member of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Chairman of AFC Organising Committee for Youth Competition.[10][11] After his first-term of vice presidency in ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), he was re-elected as vice-president of ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) for another four-year term from 2019-2023 at the AFF 26th Congress in March 2019.[4][12] In April 2019, he was elected as a vice president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the next four-year term (2019-2023).
Investigations by The Guardian and other outlets identified Zaw Zaw as chair of the FIFA Peace Prize selection committee in 2025.[13][14] Critics highlighted his ties to Myanmar's former military junta and to human rights abuses against the Rohingya people, raising concerns about the credibility of a peace award under his oversight.[13][14][15]
Tennis
He chaired Myanmar Tennis Federation from 2002 to 2005. He brought Davis Cup back to Myanmar after 50 years and the country hosted Zonal competition in 2005.[16]
