Profile of Robert Leonard Marbun, Former Customs Director Now Appointed as Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa officially inaugurated Robert Leonard Marbun as Secretary General (Sekjen) of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) in the Mezzanine Hall of the Ministry of Finance Building, Jakarta, on Friday (27/3/2026).

Robert replaces the position of Heru Pambudi, who has served as Sekjen for the past five years. This appointment is stipulated in Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 24/TPA/2026, signed by President Prabowo Subianto on 16 March 2026.

Robert Leonard Marbun was born in Medan on 23 June 1970. He is known as a career official with a strong background in customs and international relations. Before being recalled to the Ministry of Finance, Robert served as Special Staff for Institutional Relations at the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM.

His higher education was completed at Universitas Padjadjaran (Bachelor’s in International Relations), followed by a Master of Policy Analysis at Saitama University, Japan (2000), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Kobe University, Japan (2004).

In his speech, Finance Minister Purbaya emphasised the importance of the Sekjen’s role in orchestrating inter-agency efforts. Purbaya specifically set a target for the Ministry of Finance organisation to become more solid in order to support national economic growth targeted at nearly 6% this year.

Editorial Note: Robert Leonard Marbun is also recorded as active in the World Customs Organization (WCO) forum and has served as Chairperson of the WCO Audit Committee.

This inauguration marks the continuation of bureaucratic reshuffles within the Ministry of Finance since Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa assumed the role of State Treasurer in September 2025.