Tricycle operator’s daughter tasked to steer Grab Philippines

Cj Lacsican

MANILA, Philippines — The daughter of a tricycle operator has gone full circle in the mobility industry, as she takes the wheel of ride-hailing giant Grab Philippines to steer it in a challenging economy.

Grab Philippines yesterday said it has appointed CJ Lacsican as its new country managing director starting Dec. 1, succeeding Ronald Roda.

Lacsican, who had an early look into the transport business as her father was a tricycle operator, becomes the second consecutive leader of Grab Philippines to be appointed from within.

“My father’s tricycle business taught me early what a good day on the road means for a family. I have carried that lesson through every role I have held across Asia and Europe and here at Grab,” Lacsican said.

Lacsican was hired by Grab nearly five years ago and was tasked to lead multiple units such as central operations and the financial group. Currently, she heads mobility and operations.

Prior to this, Lacsican spent almost two decades with financial giants in Asia and Europe, where she handled country, regional and leadership roles.

Grab Group managing director of operations Yee Wee Tang said the management trusts Lacsican to lead the company into its next stage of growth, as competition tightens in Philippine transport.

“Her appointment reflects how we invest in developing leaders from within, and she is the right person to lead Grab Philippines into its next phase of growth,” Yee said.

Roda, for his part, will be leaving Grab to pursue his own business dreams after working with the company for more than eight years. By Dec. 1, Roda will become senior adviser and board executive to support phased turnover into early 2027.

Under his two-year leadership, Roda led Grab’s expansion into over 300 cities and municipalities nationwide. He also headed the introduction of new services on the app, such as lending.

Likewise, Grab’s boardroom shakeup sees the return of Anton Bautista as head of deliveries and commercial business and Alvin Ching’s appointment as new mobility and operations director.

Grab is dealing with the double whammy of elevated fuel prices and weaker consumer spending, triggered by geopolitical conflicts in oil producer Middle East.