Purbaya Appreciates Heru Pambudi: Without Father, I Would Be in Disarray
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa bid farewell to Heru Pambudi as Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance with respect and thanks.
Heru’s position as Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, which he has held since 12 March 2021, is now taken over by Robert Leonard Marbun, former Special Staff for State Revenue Policy at the Ministry of Finance and ex-Special Staff for Institutional Relations at the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM.
Purbaya stated that Robert is not starting from scratch as Secretary General at the Ministry of Finance, because the system has been strongly established by Heru Pambudi, making the Ministry of Finance now even more cohesive among its directorates general.
“So Mr Robert is not starting from zero, but continuing the achievements already formed by Mr Heru,” said Purbaya during Robert’s inauguration at the Djuanda I Building of the Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, on Friday (27/3/2026).
According to Purbaya, Heru has contributed to building a compact team among employees and officials of the Ministry of Finance. In fact, he said that without Heru, his work as the new finance minister on 8 September 2025 would have fallen apart within days.
“Because the teamwork demonstrated by Mr Heru has successfully built a good team. Without Mr Heru, I would have been in disarray on the second, third day of taking office,” Purbaya emphasised.
Purbaya considers Heru’s success at the Ministry of Finance not obtained instantly, as he has also been extensively involved in the Ministry of Finance with various positions he has held.
“His journey has not been linear. Cross-functional, cross-role, and forming a comprehensive, loyal, and trustworthy mindset that becomes the foundation of the secretariat general,” Purbaya revealed.
For information, Heru began his career as a Civil Servant (PNS) as an implementer at the Ministry of Finance in 1992 in the Verification Directorate, Directorate General of Customs and Excise.
He once served as Head of Section for Customs and Excise II in 2002, as Head of Import Section in 2003. In 2007, he was promoted to Head of Type A4 Tanjung Uban Customs and Excise Service Office, then in 2008 as Head of Sub-Directorate for International Cooperation III.
On 26 March 2010, he was promoted to Analyst for Customs and Excise Services and Revenue, in 2011 became Head of Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise for Sulawesi, and on 19 March 2015 became Director of Customs and Excise Revenue and Regulations.
On 1 July 2015, Heru was entrusted to serve as Director General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance until finally on 12 March 2021 he was inaugurated as Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance.