Next-generation leaders promoted by Ayala Corp.

AYALA Corp. on Monday announced the promotions of four "next-generation leaders" that it said would be driving the growth and transformation of the country's oldest conglomerate.

"They will help make for an even better Ayala as we look ahead to completing two centuries of building businesses that enable people to thrive," Ayala Corp. President and CEO Cezar Consing said in a statement.

Mariana Beatriz Zobel de Ayala and Mark Robert Uy were named managing directors, while Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala and Jaime Urquijo were appointed executive editors.

Mariana, who was senior vice president at Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), will oversee the transformation of ALI's leasing businesses, including a reinvention of its malls and office spaces.

Jaime Alfonso, her brother, will focus on Ayala's new energy vehicle business, ACMobility.

He "will play a leading role in upholding and raising the Group's standards for excellent governance — a historical strength of Ayala even more relevant in a business environment marked by volatility," the conglomerate said.

Urquijo — previously Ayala Corp's chief sustainability and risk officer — will lead an internal revamp of the holding firm to add more value to the group.

"This is key to unlocking Ayala's ambitions for greater synergy between the holding company and the different companies of the group," Ayala Corp. said.

Uy, who was formerly executive director of Ayala, will focus on revamping the group's portfolio of businesses to one that is "more concentrated, more valuable yet still diversified."

Their promotions, Ayala Chief Human Resources Officer Francisco Romero Milan said, "are part of a deliberate, longer-term succession plan being implemented across the group."

The leadership changes also include the appointment of key group leaders such as Carl Raymond Cruz as deputy CEO of Globe Telecom Inc., Margarita Dy as Ayala Land president and CEO, Erry Hardianto as AC Logistics president and CEO, and Antonio Lambino II as Ayala Foundation president.