PHILIPPINE Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) has formalized the election and appointment of James G. Velasquez as the company’s new president and chief executive officer, replacing Benjamin M. Bitanga.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange, PT&T said that its board of directors elected and appointed Mr. Velasquez in a special meeting held on Thursday. His new position will be effective starting July 2.
“Please be informed that in a special meeting of the Board of Directors held today, 28 June 2018, Mr. James G. Velasquez was elected and appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (“PT&T”) effective 02 July 2018,” it said.
It noted that Mr. Velasquez was a member of the telcommunications company’s board of directors since March 1 this year. PT&T then said that Mr. Velasquez is set to replace Mr. Bitanga after the latter stepped down from his position.
Prior to his stint as a board member of PT&T, Mr. Velasquez was a senior executive for IBM Global Technology Services, Asia Pacific. He was also the president and country general manager of IBM Philippines for six years.
Mr. Velasquez has almost 30 years of experience in information technology (IT) business management. He was also the regional general manager for IBM ASEANA/SA.
Aside from his background with IBM, Mr. Velasquez was also a board member of the Management Association of the Philippines and online news corporation Rappler, Inc.
PT&T is one of the companies looking to become the country’s third major telco player. The company already has an agreement with the state-owned National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) for its “dark” fiber. — Denise A. Valdez
