Filipino talents reap Shell global awards

MANILA, Philippines - With operations spanning 90 countries across the globe and an aim to deliver society’s growing energy needs in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways, Shell puts a premium on promoting excellent performance among all its employees and business partners. The global energy and petrochemical company recognizes that people are the key to delivering business growth and unparalleled customer satisfaction and, as such, never fails to honor those who have demonstrated determination and discipline to deliver value to customers while driving targeted growth.

In recent recognition programs by Shell, Filipinos have stood out for their world-class performance. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation Commercial Fuels key account manager Carmelo “Longking” Lauengco was among the elite recipients of the Shell Global Commercial Vice President’s Award, hailed for his outstanding delivery, robust sales performance and exhibiting winning enterprise behaviors. Lauengco received the Vice President’s recognition in Singapore during the Garden of Asia awarding ceremony that marked the 2010 Shell Global Commercial Sales Competition Awards. He joined the roster of top sales performers from countries such as Argentina, Belgium, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, and the USA.

According to Lauengco, who handles power sector accounts for Shell Commercial Fuels, “Market awareness plays a vital role in keeping up with the power sector business and this helped me to focus on business opportunities that give the highest value to Shell. The diligent use of sales tools is also key in ensuring that we sustain and grow the business.”

An electrical engineer by profession, Lauengco started in Shell in 1993, working in the distribution department before transferring to his current role in commercial sales in 1997. Through the years, he handled a wide range of accounts for Shell including food, manufacturing, mining, transport, and domestic marine. Managing to achieve and even surpass his targets, Lauengco emphasized the value of receiving coaching from line managers, especially in dealing with the challenges that come with transacting business. He likewise stressed the role of teamwork in his success, saying that collaboration with his colleagues from other business units such as supply and distribution, finance, credits, pricing, sales support and Shell marine products, ensured that risks were mitigated and transactions were delivered on time to customers.

Winning partnership

Aside from recognizing the contributions of employees to the success of the business, Shell also recognizes the invaluable role of its business partners in pushing Shell ahead of the competition in key markets. In the retail business, Shell has a network of retailers who do not directly work for Shell but run Shell-branded petrol stations around the world. As they are the face of Shell to its retail customers through their day-to-day interface with motorists, Shell recognizes that they are the lifeblood of the retail business and how well they live the Shell brand must be continually cultivated and celebrated.

In May this year, 850 delegates from over 60 countries met in Rome to celebrate, selected from a fiercely competitive community of 9,500 retailers, 700 territory managers and 100 district managers managing some 14,000 sites. The People Make the Difference Real (PMTDR) Reward and Recognition event encourages all Shell Retailers to strive for the highest standards and provides the tools to help them deliver. The awards are anchored on the PMDTR program of Shell that aims to raise levels of customer service and operational excellence in Shell retail sites around the world by giving retailers and their staff common standards, goals and behaviors so that high standards are maintained in areas such as safety and customer service.

”All the winners have delivered exceptional results through their skill, knowledge and hard work — they really are our passionate experts. Above all, our winners have focused on achieving a superior customer experience, understanding and delivering the things that really matter to customers,” said Shell Retail executive vice president John Bullock.

Matthew Driver and MasterCard Philippines country head Poch Villa-Real: The Philippines, with a high mobile phone penetration and intensity of use, has the ideal environment for mobile payments. Photos by FERNAN NEBRES

For this year’s PMDTR awarding ceremonies in Rome, Shell retailers from the Philippines Desi and Candy Tomacruz of Donica Corporation bagged the Shell Global Multi-Site Retailer of the Year Award, besting a multitude of contenders from across the globe. Tomacruz won the award for the exceptional display of operational excellence and for consistently churning outstanding scores in the global key performance indicators. A second time for the Philippines, the prestigious award brought pride and honor to the country, proving that Filipinos are truly of global caliber. 

Says Desi Tomacruz, “We are humbled by this recognition. Truly grateful for the opportunity to raise the flag high. We are proud to be Pinoy.”

Shell Retail vice president-East Cesar Romero, and also the highest-ranking Filipino in the Shell organization, said that the tandem of Desi and Candy has been a consistent performer and many visitors from around the world who have been to the Shell Bonifacio Global City retail station, one of the retail sites of the Tomacruzes, attest that it is a world-class showcase of operational excellence.

Says Romero, “Winning the Global Multi-Site Retailer award for 2010 shows the remarkable contribution of Filipinos in making the East Region a top performer in Shell Retail’s global recognition program.”