our leadership
FERNANDO ZOBEL DE AYALA
CHAIRMAN
Filipino, 58, Chairman of the Manila Water Board since May 1997. He is the Chairman of the Executive Committee, and a member of the Remuneration Committee of the Company. He also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom, Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc., and Pilipinas Shell Philippines Corporation. Similarly, he is also a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: AC Education, Inc., AC Energy Inc. – formerly AC Energy Holdings, Inc., AC Industrial Technology Holdings, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, AC International Finance Ltd., AC Venture Holding Corp., Accendo Commercial Corporation, AG Holdings Ltd., Alabang Commercial Corporation, ALI ETON Property Development Corporation, Asiacom Philippines, Inc., Aurora Properties, Inc., Automobile Central Enterprises, Inc., Ayala Foundation Inc., Ayala Group Club, Inc., Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc., Ayala International Holdings Limited, Ayala International Pte. Ltd., Ayala Retirement Fund Holdings, Inc., Berkshires Holdings, Inc., Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc., Bonifacio Land Corporation, BPI Foundation, Ceci Realty, Inc., Columbus Holdings, Inc., Emerging City Holdings, Inc., Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, Georgetown University, Honda Cars Philippines, Liontide Holdings, Inc., INSEAD Business School, Isuzu Philippines, LiveIt Investments, Ltd., Mermac, Inc., Sonoma Services, Inc., Tikehau Capital and Vesta Property Holdings, Inc. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions and memberships: President and Chief Operating Officer of Ayala Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Ayala Land, Inc., AC International Finance Ltd., ALI Eton Property Development Corporation, Liontide Holdings, Inc., AC Energy, Inc., Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc., Automobile Central Enterprise, Inc., Alabang Commercial Corporation, Accendo Commercial Corp. and Hero Foundation, Inc., Co-chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ayala Foundation, Inc. and Ayala Group Club, Inc., Vice-Chairman of AC Industrial Technology Holdings, Inc., Aurora Properties Incorporated, Vesta Property Holdings, Inc., Ceci Realty Inc., Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, Bonifacio Land Corporation, Emerging City Holdings, Inc., Columbus Holdings, Inc., Berkshires Holdings, Inc., AKL Properties Inc., AC Ventures Holding Corp. and Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc., member of the Tikehau Capital International Advisory Board, Philippine-Singapore Business Council, World Presidents’ and Chief Executives Organization, Chairman of Habitat for Humanity’s Asia-Pacific Capital Campaign Steering Committee, member of the Board of Trustees, Caritas Manila, Pilipinas Shell Foundation and the National Museum; and member of the Tate Museum Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee, Asia Philanthropy Circle and The Metropolitan Museum International Council. Further, he holds a Liberal Arts degree from Harvard College, and a Certificate in International Management from INSEAD, France.
JAIME AUGUSTO ZOBEL DE AYALA
VICE CHAIRMAN
Filipino, 59, Vice Chairman of the Manila Water Board since May 1997. He also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: Ayala Corporation, Globe Telecom, Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Integrated Micro- Electronics, Inc., and Ayala Land, Inc. Likewise, he is also a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: AC Energy, Inc., Ayala Foundation, Inc., AC Education, Inc., Ayala Retirement Fund Holdings, Inc., Asiacom Philippines, Inc., Ayala Group Club, Inc., Alabang Commercial Corporation, Ayala International Pte. Ltd., AG Holdings Limited, Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc., AC Industrial Technology Holdings, Inc., AC Ventures Holdings Corp., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Light Rail Manila Holdings, Inc., Asia Business Council, Singapore Management University, and Eisenhower Fellowships. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions and memberships: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Ayala Corporation; Chairman of the Board of Globe Telecom, Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Integrated Micro- Electronics, Inc., AC Education, Inc., Ayala Retirement Fund Holdings, Inc., Asiacom Philippines, AC Industrial Technology Holdings, Inc., AC Ventures Holdings Corp., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, and Endeavor Philippines; Chairman Emeritus of the Asia Business Council; Co-Chairman of Ayala Foundation, Inc. and Ayala Group Club, Inc.; Vice Chairman of Ayala Land, Inc.; Co-Vice Chairman of Makati Business Club; and member of various advisory boards of Harvard University, including the Global Advisory Council, HBS Board of Dean’s Advisors, and HBS Asia-Pacific Advisory Board, Mitsubishi Corporation International Advisory Council, JP Morgan International Council, JP Morgan Asia Pacific Council, Council on Foreign Relations, Singapore Management University, and University of Tokyo Global Advisory Board. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit in 2009, the Philippine Legion of Honor with rank of Grand Commander in 2010, and the Order of Mabini with rank of Commander in 2015 by the President of the Philippines in recognition of his outstanding public service. In 2017, he was recognized as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Pioneer for his work in sustainable business strategy and operations. The first recipient of the award from the Philippines, he was one of 10 individuals recognized for championing sustainability and the pursuit of the 17 SDGs in business. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (Cum Laude) from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business.
FERDINAND M. DELA CRUZ
DIRECTOR
Filipino, 52, Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Manila Water since April 2017. He is a member of the Manila Water Board and Executive Committee. He also has membership in the Board of the following non-listed companies: Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc., Manila Water International Solutions, Inc., Manila Water Total Solutions Corp., Clark Water Corporation, Boracay Island Water Company, Inc., Laguna AAAWater Corporation, Manila Water Foundation, Inc., Manila Water Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Manila Water South Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., Thu Duc Water Holdings Pte. Ltd., Kenh Dong Water Holdings Pte. Ltd., Manila South East Asia Water Holdings Pte. Ltd., Manila Water Indonesia Holdings Pte. Ltd., and UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions: Chairman of Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc., Manila Water International Solutions, Inc., Manila Water Total Solutions Corp., Clark Water Corporation, Boracay Island Water Company, Inc. and Manila Water Foundation, Inc.; Vice Chairman of Laguna AAAWater Corporation; Managing Director of Ayala Corporation; and member of the Board of Trustees of UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. He graduated with a BS Mechanical Engineering (Cum Laude) degree at the University of the Philippines. He ranked 10th in the 1987 Mechanical Engineering Board Licensure Examinations. He also completed in 2015 the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program Class 186.
GERARDO C. ABLAZA JR.
DIRECTOR
Filipino, 65, Director of Manila Water since November 2009. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee and a member of the Board, Audit Committee, and Board Risk Oversight Committee. He also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Bank of the Philippine Islands Savings Bank, and BPI Capital. Also, he is a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: AC Holdings, Inc. (formerly AC Energy Holdings, Inc.), Purefoods International Ltd., Asiacom Philippines, Inc., LiveIT Investment Limited, Ayala Foundation, Inc., Manila Water Thailand Holdings Pte. Ltd., A.C.S.T. Business Holdings, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Ayala Retirement Fund Holdings, Inc., and Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions: President of Ayala Retirement Fund Holdings, Inc., Advanced Info Services, PLC (Thailand), and Member of the Board of Trustees of De La Salle University. In 2004, he was recognized by CNBC as the Asia Business Leader of the Year, making him the first Filipino CEO to win the award. In the same year, he was awarded by Telecom Asia as the Best Asian Telecom CEO. In 2013, he was recognized for his consistent leadership and innovation across the banking, investment, telecommunications and utility service industries through the Citi Distinguished Alumni Award for Leadership and Ingenuity. He was the first and only Filipino to be awarded with such an honor. He holds a Liberal Arts degree, Major in Mathematics (Honors Program, Summa Cum Laude) from De La Salle University. As one of the most accomplished graduates of his alma mater, he sits as a member of the Board of Trustees in various De La Salle Schools in the country.
ANTONINO T. AQUINO
DIRECTOR
Filipino, 71, Director of Manila Water since April 1998. He is a Member of the Company’s Board and Executive Committee. He also has membership in the Board of Ayala Land, Inc. Likewise, he is a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company, Nuevocentro, Inc., Anvaya Beach and Nature Club, and Mano Amiga Academy Inc. He is also a member of the Multi Sectoral Advisory Board of the Philippine Army and the Multi Sector Governance Council of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense. He was named “Co-Management Man of the Year 2009” by the Management Association of the Philippines for his leadership role in a very successful waterworks privatization and public-private sector partnership. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the Ateneo de Manila University and post-graduate studies from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
DELFIN L. LAZARO
DIRECTOR
Filipino, 72, Director of Manila Water since May 2002. He is a member of the Board of the Company. He also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: Ayala Land, Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc., Ayala Corporation, and Globe Telecom, Inc. Similarly, he is a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: Asiacom Philippines, Inc., Bell Bridge Resources Corporation, Beyond Borders Medical Solutions, DLLazaro, Inc., DLL Maunong Holdings Corporation, DLL Shaw Holdings Corporation, DLL Woodstown Holdings Corporation, Lazaro Agricultural Corporation, Quezon Avenue Holdings, Corporation, Atlas Fertilizer Corporation, AC International Finance, AYC Holdings, Inc., Purefoods International, Ltd., ACST Business Holdings, Inc., AC Industrial Technology Holdings, Inc., and Lazaro, Bernardo, Tiu. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions: Chairman and President of Bell Bridge Resources Corporation, Beyond Borders Medical Solutions, DLLazaro, Inc., DLL Maunong Holdings Corporation, DLL Shaw Holdings Corporation, DLL Woodstown Holdings Corporation, and Lazaro Agricultural Corporation; Chairman of Atlas Fertilizer Corporation; and Vice Chairman and President of Asiacom Philippines, Inc. He was named Management Man of the Year 1999 by the Management Association of the Philippines for his contribution to the conceptualization and implementation of the Philippine Energy Development Plan and to the passage of the law creating the Department of Energy. He was also cited for stabilizing the power situation that helped the country achieve successive high growth levels up to the Asian crisis in 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the Philippines and an MBA (with Distinction) from Harvard Graduate School of Business.
JOHN ERIC T. FRANCIA
DIRECTOR
Filipino, 47, Director of Manila Water since April 2010. He is a Member of the Board and Executive Committee. He also has membership in the Board of Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company. Likewise, he is a Board Member of Ayala Hotels, Inc., Light Rail Manila Holdings, Inc., LiveIt Investments, AC Energy Development Inc., Northwind Power Development Corporation, North Luzon Renewables Energy Corporation, South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation, Kauswagan Power GP Corporation, AC Energy GP Corporation,Dinginin Power GP Corporation, Arlington Mariveles GP Corporation, ACE Mariveles GP Corporation, AA Thermal, Inc., Monte Solar Energy, Inc., MCX Tollway, Inc., LINC Institute, Inc., and Zapfam, Inc. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions: President and Chief Executive Officer of AC Energy, Inc.; Managing Director of Ayala Corporation; Member of the Management Committee of Ayala Corporation; and Member of the Board of Trustees of University of Asia and the Pacific Foundation, Inc. He holds a degree in Humanities and Political Economy (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Asia and the Pacific and a Master’s Degree in Management Studies (with First Class Honors) from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
OSCAR S. REYES
LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Filipino, 72, Lead Independent Director of Manila Water. He is a Director of the Company since February 2005. He is the Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee. He is also a Member of the following Manila Water Committees: Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee, and Board Risk Oversight Committee. He also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: Basic Energy Corporation, Cosco Capital Inc., Manila Electric Company (President and Chief Executive Officer), and Pepsi Cola Products Phils. Inc. Similarly, he is a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: PLDT Communications and Energy Ventures Inc. and Sun Life Financial Phils, Inc. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions: Chairman of Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation, CIS Bayad Center, Meralco Energy, Inc., Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc., PacificLight Pte. Ltd., MRail, Inc., Spectrum Inc., and Atimonan One Energy Inc.; Co-chairman of Meralco PowerGen Corporation; Member of the Board of Trustees of Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., One Meralco Foundation, Inc., SGV Foundation, Inc., and El Nido Foundation, Inc.; Member of the Advisory Board of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), and Council of Advisors of the Bank of the Philippine Islands. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (Cum Laude) from the Ateneo de Manila University and has post-graduate studies from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. He took Program for Management Development from Harvard Business School. He also got a Commercial Management Study Program of Shell International Petroleum Co., U.K. in Lensbury Centre. He also took International Management Development leading to a Diploma in Business Administration and a Certificate in Export Promotion from the Waterloo Lutheran University in Canada. He also joined the Business Management Consultants and Trainers’ Program of the Japan Productivity Center/Asian Productivity Organization in Japan and Hong Kong.
SHERISA P. NUESA
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Filipino, 63, Independent Director of Manila Water since April 2013. She is the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee and Related Party Transactions Committee. She is also a Member of the Company’s Remuneration Committee. She also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: Far Eastern University and Integrated Micro Electronics Inc. Likewise, she is a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: Generika Group (Actimed, Erikagen, Pharmagen, Novelis), ALFM Mutual Funds Group, East Asia Computer Center Inc., Judicial Reform Initiative (JRI), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Institute of Corporate Directors, and FERN Realty Corp. Concurrently, she also holds the following positions: President of ALFM Mutual Funds Group; Senior Board Adviser of Metro Retail Stores Group (MRSG); Board Adviser/Consultant of VICSAL Development Corporation; and Chairman of the Judicial Reform Initiative. She was awarded the ING-FINEX Chief Finance Officer of the year for 2008. She holds a degree in Commerce (Summa Cum Laude) from the Far Eastern University and an MBA from Ateneo-Regis Graduate School of Business. She also completed an Advanced Management Program and Audit Committee Seminar for Directors from Harvard Business School. She also took a Financial Management Program from Stanford University. She is a Certified Public Accountant.
JAIME C. LAYA
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Filipino, 79, Independent Director of Manila Water since April 2014. He is the Chairman of the Company’s Board Risk Oversight Committee. He is also a Member of the following Manila Water Committees: Audit Committee, Related Party Transactions Committee, and Nomination Committee. He also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: Ayala Land, Inc., Philippine Trust Company, GMA Network, Inc., and GMA Holdings, Inc. Also, he is a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: Philippine AXA Life Insurance Co., Inc., Cultural Center of the Philippines, St. Paul’s University – Quezon City, Ayala Foundation, Inc., Yuchengco Museum, Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc., Don Norberto Ty Foundation, Inc., Charter Ping An Insurance Corporation, and Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions: Chairman and President of Philippine Trust Company (Philtrust Bank); Chairman of Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc., Don Norberto Ty Foundation, Inc.; Independent Director of Philippine AXA Life Insurance Co., Inc., GMA Network, Inc., GMA Holdings, Inc., Ayala Land, Inc., Charter Ping An Insurance Corporation; Trustee of Cultural Center of the Philippines, St. Paul University-Quezon City, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Yuchengco Museum, Ayala Foundation, Inc., and others; and Director of various family corporations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of the Philippines. He took his Master’s Degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. in Financial Management from Stanford University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
JOSE L. CUISIA JR.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Filipino, 74, Independent Director of Manila Water since April 2010. He is the Chairman of the Company’s Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee. He is also a Member of the Company’s Committees: Audit Committee, Corporate Governance Committee, Related Party Transactions Committee, and Board Risk Oversight Committee. He also has membership in the Board of the following listed companies: SM Prime Holdings, PHINMA Corporation, and Century Properties Group, Inc. Also, he is a Board Member of the following non-listed companies: Chairman of the Board of Starr International Companies – Philippine Branch, FWD Insurance, and Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation; Advisory Board of the Rizalino Navarro Center for Competitiveness at AIM; Board of Five J’s Diversified, Adlemi Properties, JVC Holdings Corp., and The Covenant Car Company; Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the Ramon V. Del Rosario Center for Corporate Responsibility at AIM; Vice Chairman and Lead Independent Director of SM Prime Holdings; Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Asia and the Pacific and CRC Foundation; and Board of PHINMA, Inc., and Asian Breast Center, Inc. Previously, he was Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America and non-resident Ambassador to Trinidad & Tobago, the US Virgin Islands, Grenada, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of Jamaica and the Republic of Haiti, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, the Commonwealth of Dominica, The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 2010-2016. He holds an AB-BSC degree (Magna Cum Laude) from De La Salle University and an MBA (University Scholar) from The Wharton School Graduate School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
SOLOMON HERMOSURA
DIRECTOR
Filipino, 56, Corporate Secretary of Manila Water since April 2006. He served as a Managing Director of Ayala Corporation since 1999. He is also a member of the Management Committee of Ayala (Holding Company) since 2009 and the Management Committee of Ayala (Group) since 2010. Concurrently, he also holds the following positions: Chief Legal Officer, Compliance Officer, Data Protection Officer, Group Head of Corporate Governance and the Corporate Secretary of Ayala Corporation; Chief Executive Officer of Ayala Group Legal; Group General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Ayala Land, Inc.; Corporate Secretary of Globe Telecom, Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc., and Ayala Foundation, Inc.; and Member of the Board of Directors of a number of companies in the Ayala Group. He is currently a member of the faculty of the College of Law of San Beda University. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (Valedictorian) from San Beda College of Law and placed third in the 1986 Bar Examinations.