BIZ BUZZ: Smart Communications to welcome new execs
With the resignation of telecommunications veteran Anastacio “Boy” Martirez from Smart Communications effective Oct. 21, of course, the next question is who will replace him as chief operating officer?
Biz Buzz has it on good authority that Jane Jimenez-Basas, current MediaQuest and Cignal TV president and CEO, is all set to make the move to the wireless arm of the PLDT Group.
Initially, she had expressed her intention to accept the Smart post only if she could also remain as head of MediaQuest, which is home to traditional and digital media brands including Cignal, TV5, The Philippine Star and Businessworld.
But considering that she will definitely have too much on her plate if she keeps both pressure-cooker jobs, she had to make a choice and Smart won, apparently much to the relief of PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan.
However, Biz Buzz sources said she agreed only after being given carte blanche authority to pick her successor.
So who’s stepping into her shoes? It’s most likely MediaQuest first vice president Sienna Olaso, sources said.
