Zaldarriaga appointed as Meralco VP

JOE R. Zaldarriaga, spokesperson and head of corporate communications at Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has been promoted to the rank of vice president (VP), the company said.

His appointment was effective as of Tuesday, the company said. Meralco’s Board of Directors approved Mr. Zaldarriaga’s new position in its regular meeting held on Nov. 27.

Mr. Zaldarriaga was also the recipient of the University of Manila’s Dr. Mariano V. delos Santos medallion of honor and scroll of commendation for his “continued and undying service to both the country and the Filipino people.”

Under Mr. Zaldarriaga’s leadership, Meralco won four IABC Philippine Quill Awards, and two top awards for communication skills and research.

His team won the first and only PR Team of the Year Award at the Anvil Awards, which was conferred by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

Mr. Zaldarriaga led several Meralco campaigns, which garnered accolades such as the 2018 Silver Stevie for Communications Team of the Year, 2016 Gold Stevie for Community Relations Campaign, and winner trophies at the 2016 Asia Pacific’s The Gold Standard Awards, among others.

At present, Mr. Zaldarriaga also chairs the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines and has three opinion columns in publications such as the Daily Tribune, Pilipino Mirror and Saksi Ngayon.

Meanwhile, at Meralco’s Board of Directors’ meeting on Nov. 27, Glen N. San Pedro was also appointed as vice president and head of Supply Chain Management, while Maria Luisa V. Alvendia was designated as first vice president, chief of staff and supply chain advisor.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., that has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Angelica Y. Yang