Canva names Bukalapak co-founder Willix Halim as its South-east Asia CEO
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What happened
Canva appointed Willix Halim, the co-founder and former CEO of Indonesian e-commerce company Bukalapak, to lead its South-east Asia operations as the region's CEO. The Business Times reported the appointment on October 11, 2026, describing it as recent, and did not give an exact appointment date. According to the newspaper, Halim advised Canva for about a year before joining full-time about three months before the report.
The Business Times said Halim was expected to contribute to market localisation strategies and to a mobile-first approach to the region. Canva told the newspaper that one in two presentations in South-east Asia starts on mobile, rising to two in three in Indonesia and three in five in the Philippines. Canva also said that annual recurring revenue for its South-east Asia business had more than trebled since 2022, and that monthly active users had more than doubled over the same period. The company declined to reveal its revenue and user base, so no absolute figures were given for the region or for the company as a whole.
Key points
- Willix Halim, co-founder and former CEO of Bukalapak, was named Canva's South-east Asia CEO.1
- He advised Canva for about a year, then joined full-time about three months before the October 11, 2026 report.1
- Canva said its South-east Asia annual recurring revenue had more than trebled since 2022; monthly active users more than doubled.1
- One in two presentations in the region starts on mobile: two in three in Indonesia, three in five in the Philippines.1
- Canva declined to disclose its revenue and user base.1
Why it matters
Canva says South-east Asia recurring revenue has more than trebled since 2022 and users more than doubled. These are the only figures disclosed, with no base amounts, so the region's share of revenue cannot be sized.
Halim co-founded and ran Indonesian e-commerce company Bukalapak. Canva's mobile usage figures for the region frame why local product and market knowledge is part of the appointment.
A regional hire carries no financial terms and no change in ownership. It shows where the company is putting management attention.
In context
| Round | Date | Post-money valuation | Raised | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding round | Jan 8, 2018 | $1.0B | $40M | Blackbird Ventures |
| Funding round | May 20, 2019 | $2.5B | $70M | Unknown |
| Funding round | Oct 16, 2019 | $3.2B | $85M | Bond Capital |
| Funding round | Jun 22, 2020 | $6.0B | $60M | Blackbird Ventures and Sequoia Capital China |
| Funding round | Apr 6, 2021 | $15B | $71M | Dragoneer and T. Rowe Price |
| Funding round | Sep 14, 2021 | $40B | $200M | T. Rowe Price |
Updated
Fact-check
- Willix Halim, Bukalapak's co-founder and former CEO, was appointed Canva's South-east Asia CEO.Confirmed by [1] The Business Times: it says Canva recently appointed Halim, co-founder and former CEO of Bukalapak, to lead its South-east Asia operations. The checker could not reload the page (WebFetch blocked); this rests on the writer's extract of the article and the event's research evidence.Verified
- The appointment was reported on October 11, 2026, with no exact appointment date.Confirmed by [1] The Business Times: the article is dated October 11, 2026 and says he joined full-time about three months earlier; it gives no appointment date, and the event data dates the event to October 2026 at month precision.Partly verified
- Halim advised Canva for about a year before joining full-time about three months before the report.Confirmed by [1] The Business Times, per the writer's extract: he advised for about a year and joined full-time about three months ago.Verified
- Canva's South-east Asia ARR has more than trebled since 2022 and monthly active users more than doubled.Confirmed by [1] The Business Times, per the writer's extract: Canva disclosed both to the newspaper, without absolute figures.Verified
- One in two presentations in South-east Asia starts on mobile, two in three in Indonesia, three in five in the Philippines.Confirmed by [1] The Business Times, per the writer's extract: it attributes these figures to Canva.Verified
Sources
- [1]The Business Times (opens in a new tab)Canva appoints ex-Bukalapak CEO to lead its South-east Asia operationannual recurring revenue for its South-east Asia business has more than trebled since 2022
