Gen Aksara Kerdpol, the chairman of the army's advisory panel and a former classmate of the new army chief, has been chosen to head the Thai team in a planned new round of southern peace talks.
The appointment was confirmed on Friday by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who is also the defence minister. He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was expected to issue an official order to formalise the appointment soon.
Gen Prawit denied a report that Malaysia did not favour Gen Aksara or any other military officer as the head of the Thai negotiating team. Kuala Lumpur is said to prefer Thawil Pliensri, the former secretary-general of the National Security Council, in the role.
Malaysia helped broker earlier talks with representatives of southern insurgents.
Gen Prawit also said that the government was proceeding with its solutions to problems in the restive far South and was determined to make progress in the efforts.
Gen Aksara, who is also a member of the National Legislative Assembly, was a classmate of Army chief and Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School.