Voyager appoints new president

VOYAGER Innovations, Inc. has appointed Shailesh Baidwan as president to help in the company’s day-to-day operations and in shaping its strategic business direction.

The digital arm of PLDT, Inc. announced the leadership change in a statement Monday, where it noted Mr. Baidwan will also be president of the company’s mobile wallet arm PayMaya Philippines, Inc.

Mr. Baidwan will report to Orlando B. Vea, former president of Voyager, who will retain his role as the company’s chief executive officer.

“We welcome Shailesh to Voyager and PayMaya. I’m confident that his extensive global experience and track record will complement our vision for digital and financial inclusion in emerging markets,” Mr. Vea said in the statement.

Mr. Baidwan previously worked with American Express and Visa for Asia Pacific, and with technology and marketing firm Aimia Loyalty Solutions.

“Voyager and PayMaya are trailblazers in the Philippine digital financial services industry. Together with the rest of the management team, I am very keen and excited to drive PayMaya’s consumer and enterprise businesses leap of growth to its next phase,” he was quoted in the statement as saying.

Voyager is supported by China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd.; US-based Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR); International Finance Corp. (IFC) and IFC Emerging Asia Fund.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Denise A. Valdez