PLDT announces new appointments

MANILA, Philippines – PLDT Inc. has announced leadership changes and appointments in management as part of its new digital thrust.

“We disclose the leadership changes and appointments at PLDT in line with the company’s new mission of leading, inspiring and empowering Filipinos with customer-focused digital innovations, in creating a more aligned, cohesive and collaborative organization, as well as strengthening the management team and reinforcing it with global talent that will help propel its digital transformation pivot,” PLDT said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday.

Leading the list of new appointments is Eric Alberto who has been named chief  revenue officer (CRO) to report to the president or CEO effective Dec.1.

Alberto, who serves as head of enterprise, international and carrier business of PLDT and Smart Communications Inc., will have an expanded role as CRO which encompasses and integrates the home, wireless, enterprise, international and information communications technology businesses across PLDT and Smart.

Alex Caeg, who heads PLDT Global Corp., meanwhile, has been named head of WCD (wireless consumer division) sales and distribution of Smart starting Dec.1, to help drive sales and revenues for PLDT’s wireless unit.

Ray Espinosa, who is head of regulatory affairs and policies at PLDT, is appointed chief corporate services officer starting Dec.1, to provide more focus on managing,   organizing and synchronizing functions including corporate affairs and legal services, regulatory affairs and policies, supply chain management, property and facilities management, asset protection and risk management, business continuity and resilience, data privacy, and corporate communications and public affairs.

Appointed as chief customer experience and data analytics advisor effective Jan.1, 2017 is Ralph Brunner, who formerly served as senior vice president, global marketing strategy, advanced data analytics and chief marketing officer for Asia of New York-based Metropolitan Life Insurance.  He will be responsible for leading the business analytics functions across PLDT.

Liza Sichon, a seasoned global human resources practitioner with previous posts as vice president for human resources, human resources transformation, communications and operations for Hewlett Packard, and vice president international: mergers and acquisitions human resources for Avaya Inc.,  will serve as chief people and culture officer beginning Dec.1.

Named as enterprise, international and carrier business digital marketing strategy head starting Dec.1 is Carlo Ople,  the founder and editor-in-chief of technology and gadget website Unbox.ph.

Other appointments, meanwhile, took effect earlier.

The appointment of Keith Walter, who has over 30 years of management and technical experience with leading telecoms, high tech and retail companies, as information technology (IT) transformation advisor of the business transformation office of PLDT took effect last Oct.23.

Jerry Brace was appointed chief information advisor responsible for the design, development and implementation of PLDT’s IT strategies effective Sept.12.

John Nelson Ladaban’s appointment as PLDT Group corporate-wide chief credit, collection and churn management officer took effect Sept. 1.

Winston Damarillo heads PLDT Capital, which serves as the holding company of PLDT’s investments in internet or over-the-top companies.

PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said earlier he expects next year to be annus mirabilis or a wonderful year, as the company hopes to achieve better financial results through higher core earnings and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), with the changes in management.

He has described this year as annus horribilis or a horrible year as the company faced challenges given intense price competition and the continuing shift of customers from voice/SMS services to data.

PLDT’s consolidated core income declined 20 percent year-on-year to P21.7 billion in the January to September period, while normalized core income, which removes exceptionals such as asset sales and impact of subsidies, reached P16 billion as of end-September this year, down 33 percent from the same period in 2015.

Pangilinan said PLDT expects to start the search for a new CEO who will lead the company in its new thrust of putting more focus on digital services for customers, by next year.

Pangilinan assumed the position of president and CEO of PLDT following the retirement of Napoleon Nazareno on Dec.31 last year.