Nazareno retires by year-end: MVP takes over as PLDT/Smart CEO

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Smart Communications Inc. said yesterday Manuel V. Pangilinan would assume the position of president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the firms as Napoleon Nazareno is set to retire from his post by the end of the year.

Pangilinan, who is the present chairman of the boards of PLDT and Smart, would take on the role of Nazareno.

Nazareno would remain in the Board of Directors of PLDT until a replacement is appointed.

The official was due for mandatory retirement last year but was requested by the Board of Directors of PLDT to stay on for another year for the launch of the digital transformation program and to work on a succession plan.

Pangilinan said in a press conference yesterday there is no specific timeframe to find a new president and CEO.

As the PLDT Group is focused on its digital thrust, he said there is a need for someone who can take the lead in pushing that strategy.

“Someone exposed or experienced on things that are digital, that is the first prerequisite for that individual (new president and CEO),” Pangilinan said.

Aside from the retirement of Nazareno, PLDT also announced other senior management changes which would take effect by Jan. 1, 2016 to accelerate the digital transformation as well as enhance the group’s technological capabilities.

Under Ariel Fermin’s Consumer Division for PLDT Home, Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk N’ Text,  Katrina Luna-Abelarde who serves as head of SME Business, would take on the role of Wireless Consumer Operations head and oversee the marketing, sales and operations, including product development, analytics, customer care as well as credit and collection.

Oscar “Renren” Reyes who is currently chief operating officer of Cignal TV Inc., would report to Fermin and assume the position of PLDT Home Operations head, responsible for marketing, sales and operations, including product development, analytics, customer care, and credit and collection.

Albert Mitchell Locsin, meanwhile, would become head of SME Business to replace Luna.

The PLDT Group has also named Duane Williams as Voyager group chief financial officer.

Changes were also announced in another MVP-led company Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

MPIC said Victorico Vargas, the current president and CEO of Maynilad Water Services Inc. would be appointed to First Pacific Co. (FPC) to lead the business transformation efforts of companies within the FPC group by Jan. 1, 2016.

As such, he would head the Business Transformation Office and, in the first instance and as priority, oversee the transformation-related activities of the PLDT Group, including the organization and human capital requirements of a digital company.

Vargas would be replaced by Ramoncito Fernandez as the new president and CEO and Director of Maynilad president and CEO and director of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. while concurrently holding his functions as president and CEO of Manila North Tollways Corp.  Roberto Bontia would then assume the position as president and CEO of Tollways Management Corp.

In the same event yesterday, Ray Espinosa, regulatory affairs and policy head at PLDT said the telco is looking at legal options available as it pushes for the reallocation of the 700 Megahertz (MHz) frequency band, a vital resource to improve the quality of Internet service in the country.

In particular, the firm wants to determine legal actions it can take against National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) director Edgardo Cabarios for his “misleading unofficial and personal statements regarding the true state of the 700 MHz radio frequency band in the country.”

 “While stating that the issue now surrounding the 700 MHz radio frequency band is a quasi-judicial matter (referring obviously to the quasi-judicial function of the Commission en banc), Director Cabarios, whose department’s function is purely administrative in nature, expressed unofficial and  personal biased statements in favor of the current holders of the 700 MHz radio frequency in clear and wanton disregard of applicable laws and regulations covering the repurposing of the use of radio frequencies,” Espinosa said.

Cabarios earlier said the reallocation of the 700 MHz frequency band is a quasi-judicial process and would be difficult to undertake since it has already been assigned and there is no reason to recall.