Bhutan NDI (National Digital Identity), the pioneering digital identity and trust services company, is pleased to announce the appointment of its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jacques von Benecke.

Envisioned as a foundation for the Digital Drukyul Flagship Program, the National Digital Identity project began as a joint initiative under the GovTech Agency and Druk Holding & Investments (DHI). The project culminated in the nationwide launch of the Bhutan NDI Digital Wallet on 13 October 2023. Following this success, the initiative has now transitioned into a full-fledged DHI-owned startup, poised to scale and innovate under dedicated leadership. Bhutan NDI, as a DHI-owned company, has embarked on its next chapter—expanding from foundational digital identity and trust infrastructure to an ecosystem of value-added services aimed at delivering trust, security, and assurance across all digital interactions.

With the appointment of the inaugural CEO, Bhutan NDI is entering a new phase of strategic development, operational excellence, and international engagement. Jacques von Benecke brings to the role a deep background in technology implementation strategy as the Chief Technology Officer of the DHI Group. He has a strong commitment towards public interest technology and a vision to transform Bhutan into a global leader in privacy-driven digital identity solutions.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jacques as the inaugural CEO of Bhutan NDI. His leadership will be instrumental in scaling the platform, fostering innovation, and delivering on the promise of secure digital services for every Bhutanese citizen as well as international residents,” said Ngawang, Interim Chairman, Bhutan NDI and CEO, Green Digital Limited.

While Bhutan NDI continues to serve as a cornerstone for trusted digital interactions within the country, the organization is also charting a path toward international interoperability. The next phase of development will focus on creating frameworks and partnerships that enable Bhutanese credentials to be recognized and used across borders, especially in areas such as cross-border finance, travel, and digital commerce.

Under the new leadership, Bhutan NDI will focus on three core goals:

• Equitable Access and Inclusion: Delivering digital identity solutions that are accessible to every citizen, regardless of literacy level, connectivity status, or geographic location—ensuring no one is left behind in Bhutan’s digital evolution.
• Trust-Centric Infrastructure: Building a future-proof digital identity system based on decentralized identifiers (DIDs), verifiable credentials (VCs), and zero-knowledge proofs—technologies that prioritize data privacy, consent, and security.
• Digital Empowerment and Sovereignty: Enabling individuals to own, manage, and selectively share their personal information, aligned with Bhutan’s goals around digital innovation.

“It is an incredible honor to lead Bhutan NDI at such a transformative moment for the country. We are not just building a digital identity platform—we are building trust in the digital age. Our goal is to empower every Bhutanese citizen with control over their own information, while creating a foundation that enables secure and seamless access to services across sectors and borders. I look forward to working closely with our partners, the government, and the users to shape a digital future that reflects our values of inclusion, privacy, and innovation,” said Jacques von Benecke, CEO, Bhutan NDI.

The appointment of a dedicated CEO underscores DHI’s commitment to advancing Bhutan NDI from a foundational platform into a dynamic engine for innovation and public service delivery. The company will work closely with government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and private sector organizations to integrate secure digital identity across all key sectors.

Bhutan NDI’s work is essential to enabling secure authentication, authorization, and digital transactions—online and offline—anytime, anywhere. As the platform matures, it is expected to become a model for ethical and privacy-driven digital identity systems globally.

About Bhutan NDI

Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) provides verifiable credentials to Bhutanese citizens and residents. Bhutan NDI represents trust between actors in Bhutan’s digital ecosystem by offering the highest level of assurance, ensuring that all information shared across online services and platforms is authentic and verified.

The Bhutan NDI platform establishes a highly secure digital identity system, leveraging decentralized public key infrastructure to enhance the security and integrity of personal data. Bhutan NDI promotes inclusivity, accessibility, and equity by catering to individuals across demographics.

To learn more, visit: bhutanndi.com