4 next-gen Ayala leaders step up
Next-generation leaders are stepping up and taking greater responsibilities at Ayala Corp. as the country’s oldest conglomerate gears up for the decade leading toward its 200th anniversary.
In a statement on Monday, Ayala said Mariana Beatriz E. Zobel de Ayala, Mark Robert H. Uy, Jaime Alfonso E. Zobel de Ayala and Jaime Z. Urquijo—each already spearheading specific projects or business units—were tasked to focus on areas “strategically important” to the company’s future.
Mariana and Uy were promoted to managing directors, while Jaime Alfonso and Urquijo were both promoted to executive directors.
“Each of our senior promotees represent Ayala at its best—purposeful, forward looking, professional, engaged,” Ayala president and CEO Cezar Consing said.
“They will help make for an even better Ayala as we look ahead to completing two centuries of building businesses that enable people to thrive,” he added.
Mariana, the eldest child of Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and currently the head of leasing and hospitality at Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), will lead the “reinvention” of flagship and core malls while “reimagining” offices amid changing workplace needs, according to Ayala.
In January, Mariana said they would launch 78,000 square meters (sq m) of new retail space this year to take advantage of growing foot traffic at Ayala malls.
ALI currently has around 700,000 sq m of mall space either under planning or construction, with around 30,000 sq m needing a “concept refresh.”
Likewise, Ayala Land Hospitality plans to spend $500 million in the next five years.
The office business is also experiencing “above average” leaseout, according to Mariana, defying the industry’s overall weakness.
Meanwhile, Uy—currently head of corporate strategy and business development and the only non-Zobel among the four—will lead “the continued transformation of the group’s portfolio businesses.”
“This includes looking after the longer-term future of existing businesses while exploring new ones aligned with Ayala’s broader purpose,” the conglomerate said.
Previously the country manager of Credit Suisse Group AG, Uy joined Ayala in August 2023 as its head of business development and digital ventures.
Uy’s appointment comes amid a challenging time for Ayala’s portfolio companies like the health care and logistics units.
Jaime Alfonso, the only son of Jaime Augusto, will “play a leading role in raising the group’s standards for excellent governance.”
The younger Zobel will also focus on accelerating the growth of AC Mobility as its CEO. AC Mobility, the new energy vehicle platform of Ayala, is the official distributor of BYD cars in the Philippines.
As for Ayala chief sustainability and risk officer Urquijo, the 36-year-old executive will lead “internal transformation” and ensure synergy among the group’s companies.
Urquijo earlier said that their generation now had a “big responsibility” to unlock this synergy and create an edge for Ayala.
“Over its 191 years, Ayala has demonstrated a history of smooth leadership transitions anchored on thoughtful succession planning,” Ayala chief human resources officer Francisco Romero Milan said. “The promotions of these four leaders are part of a deliberate, longer-term succession plan being implemented across the group.”
