Tech giant FPT exec Hoang Nam Tien dies at 57

FPT Corporation said Tien passed away at 4:10 p.m. on July 31.

Born in 1969 into a family with a strong revolutionary tradition, Tien was the youngest son of the late Major General Hoang Dan and former National Assembly delegate Nguyen Thi An Vinh. He graduated in computer science from Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 1993 before joining FPT, where he would spend his entire career.

Over 32 years, Tien rose through the ranks of Vietnam’s leading tech group. As the first CEO of FPT Distribution in 2001, he helped turn it into a major revenue driver. At its peak in 2008, the firm contributed 60% of FPT’s total revenue.

In 2012, he became chairman of FPT Software, leading it to become one of the world’s top 500 software companies and one of the 100 leading IT outsourcing providers.

Tien took the helm at FPT Telecom in 2020, steering it through the pandemic. Revenue grew from VND11.46 trillion (US$437.4 million) to more than VND14.7 trillion during his tenure, while profit after tax rose from VND1.6 trillion to over VND2.25 trillion.

Since April 2023, Tien had served as vice chairman of FPT University Council, where he was expected to help drive innovation in education. Widely known as "Teacher Tien," he regularly spoke at events, sharing insights on business, leadership and artificial intelligence.

Tien was admired for his bold thinking, willingness to challenge convention, and dedication to mentoring the next generation. His books included "Letters to You", a collection of his parents’ wartime correspondence, and "Applying AI in Business", published in June.