Manuel V Pangilinan steps down as president and CEO of PLDT Inc. and retains his post as PLDT chair.
At the 2021 PLDT Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, Alfredo Panlilio was appointed to the post and will now concurrently serve as president and CEO of PLDT and Smart. Panlilio retains his post as chief revenue officer of PLDT.
“This decision has been made less difficult by the knowledge that Al, with his long experience with PLDT and his competent qualities, would be able to take my place, without interruption or detriment to the progress of PLDT,” Pangilinan said. “If I can be of service to Al and his team at any time, I shall not fail to help.”
“I resolve to build upon your (referring to MVP) legacy in PLDT,” Panlilio said.
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He also committed to working diligently to realize his vision for PLDT of “a true customer-centric and leading-edge technology company that empowers all Filipinos in building a stronger nation, providing world-class connectivity as a human right, asserting the Philippines as a key player in the global arena and actively embarking on sustainable development to secure everyone’s future.”
Pangilinan joined PLDT as president and CEO in 1998, following the entry of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., which Pangilinan founded in 1981.
Landline business
Over the last two decades under Pangilinan’s leadership, PLDT has transformed from a primarily landline business into one that provided an array of innovative digital and data-driven services that serve customers while at home, at work, or on the go.
Returning in 2016 as PLDT president and CEO, Pangilinan oversaw PLDT’s comprehensive digital transformation program, which entailed massive modernization of its networks and IT platforms to be able to deliver rich digital services and solutions to customers.
Other companies chaired by Pangilinan include Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Maynilad Water Services Inc., (Maynilad), and Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc.
Corporate Business Group
Panlilio first joined PLDT in 1999 as its senior vice president for Corporate Business Group. He eventually became the head of PLDT’s Carrier Business Group before moving to Meralco in 2010, where he worked as senior vice president for Customer Retail Services. He returned to PLDT in July 2019 as Chief Revenue Officer and was later appointed president and CEO of Smart Communications Inc.
A veteran executive, Panlilio has been a strong force in the world of business, in the telecommunications, information technology, and energy service industries.