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Gerardo AblazaFilipino senior executive and current President and CEO of Manila Water Company
Country:
 Philippines |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Gerardo C. Ablaza, Jr. graduated with honors from De La Salle University in 1974, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He currently serves as a Trustee of the De La Salle Philippines Schools System.
Career
Citibank N.A.Before joining the Ayala Group, Ablaza was Vice President and Country Business Manager for Guam and the Philippines at Citibank N.A. He also headed Citibank N.A.'s Credit Card Department in Singapore.
Globe Telecom
From 1998 to April 2009, Ablaza served as President and CEO of Globe Telecom, the Philippines' leading telecommunications provider. Under his leadership, Globe Telecom transformed from being the fourth mobile service provider to becoming the second largest telecommunications operator in the country. By 2008, Globe Telecom's subscriber base reached 25 million.
Manila Water Company
Ablaza was appointed President and CEO of Manila Water Company, the sole provider of water and wastewater services to over six million people in the East Zone of Metro Manila, Philippines on June 30, 2010. Manila Water Company is a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation.
As the driving force behind the public-private partnership, Ablaza oversees financial and operational growth across Manila Water Company's concession area, which includes not only Metro Manila's East Zone but also the industrial Laguna province, the island resort paradise of Boracay, the transpacific aviation hub Clark Airbase, and the province of Cebu.
Awards and Recognition
In 2004, CNBC awarded Ablaza "Asian Business Leader of the Year," making him the first Filipino business executive to receive the prestigious honor. He also received the "Asian Best Telecom CEO" award from the Thai communications conglomerate Telecom Asia in the same year.
In 2013, Ablaza was the recipient of the Citi Distinguished Alumni Award for Leadership and Innovation. The award recognized his leadership and innovation in the banking, investment, telecommunications, and communications sectors. He is the first Filipino to ever receive the award.
