PLDT, Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. announced on Thursday that Alfredo S. Panlilio will be returning in July as its chief revenue officer.
Current PLDT-Smart Chief Revenue Officer Ernesto “Eric” A. Alberto is set to leave his post by June 30.
“We would like to thank Eric for his 16 long years of service and loyalty… As Chief Revenue Officer for PLDT and Smart, he led the team that turned around our Consumer Wireless business while sustaining the robust double digit growth of both Home and Enterprise,” PLDT-Smart Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Manuel V. Pangilinan was quoted as saying in the statement.
The PLDT chief did not elaborate on where Mr. Alberto will be headed, but noted he has “ongoing discussions with Eric regarding opportunities that he may pursue with the First Pacific Group.”
Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd. has presence in the Philippines through key units PLDT, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Philex Mining Corp. Mr. Pangilinan leads First Pacific as its CEO and managing director.
Mr. Alberto was appointed to the chief revenue officer position in 2016, where he was asked to report directly to Mr. Pangilinan.
Around the same time, Mr. Pangilinan said he wanted a new CEO “no later than early 2018.” He eventually said in March 2018 that he was “ready to go” as soon as PLDT sustains its growth momentum.
Mr. Panlilio’s comeback to the telco firm comes after joining Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) in 2010, where he worked as senior vice-president for Customer Retail Services. He will be leaving his post in Meralco to Victor Emmanuel S. Genuino, the company’s current vice-president and head of Corporate Business Group.
Mr. 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.
Hastings Holdings, Inc. — a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. — maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Denise A. Valdez
