Cesar Buenaventura, first Filipino CEO of Shell Group in PH, dies at 96
Management guru Cesar Buenaventura, the first Filipino CEO and chair of the Shell Group in the Philippines, as well as one of its longest-serving directors, died on Dec. 10. He was 96.
Buenaventura’s death was announced by the Makati Business Club (MBC), which he helped incorporate and where he had served as an adviser for 27 years, from 1981 to 2008.
“CAB is widely known for his stellar leadership and influence in the business community,” MBC said in a social media post.
Buenaventura, who led some of the country’s largest companies, retired as a director at Shell in 2024.
During his tenure there, he established the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. in 1982, creating the company’s social development arm. Another foundation he helmed was the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation from 1986 to 2009.
He also served in government as a member of the Monetary Board during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., representing the private sector.
Corporate roles
Over the decades, Buenaventura served as director of leading companies including Philippine American Life Insurance Co., AG&P Co. of Manila, Ayala Corp., First Philippine Holdings Corp., Philippine Airlines, Philippine National Bank, Benguet Corp., Asian Bank, Ma. Cristina Chemical Industries, Paysetter International Inc., D.M. Consunji, Inc., Maibarara Geothermal Inc. and Manila International Airport Authority.
Buenaventura later became an independent director at the International Container Terminal Services, Inc., where he served on various committees such as audit, corporate governance and board risk oversight.
In 1985, the Management Association of the Philippines named him “Management Man of the Year,” one of the highest honors for Filipino executives.
Celebrated engineer
An engineer by training, Buenaventura earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1950 and his master’s degree in civil engineering, majoring in structures, from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in 1954 as a Fulbright scholar.
He later returned to UP as a member of its Board of Regents from 1987 to 1994.
Though widely recognized for his business leadership, Buenaventura was celebrated in the engineering field as well.
He was honored by the Professional Regulatory Commission as an Outstanding Professional in Engineering and received a Centennial Award as one of UP’s top 100 engineering alumni.
In 1991, Buenaventura was named an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
