PLDT names longtime exec as COO

MANILA, Philippines — Telco leader PLDT Inc. has promoted a seasoned executive as its chief operating officer (COO), who will be tasked to oversee the largest broadband provider through new challenges and risks.

PLDT yesterday announced the appointment of Menardo Jimenez Jr. as executive vice president and COO in another boardroom move for the leading Philippine telco.

Jimenez brings with him more than two decades of service in PLDT, having worn different hats since 2001, the most recent of which is as senior vice president and network head.

Prior to this, he also worked as consumer business home advisor, consumer business home head and deputy business transformation head. Further, he served as human resource and development head, the longest role he held for the telco, from 2009 to 2019.

His earlier stint with PLDT revolved around leading its retail business and its public affairs in the 2000s. Jimenez studied at the University of the Philippines where he obtained his undergraduate degree in economics.

Jimenez is the son and namesake of Menardo Jimenez Sr., who is considered as one of the three fathers of broadcast giant GMA Network Inc.

His mother, Carolina Gozon-Jimenez, is the sister of another GMA founder, Felipe Gozon, who remains as chairman of the Kapuso network.

The younger Jimenez, known to the industry as Butch, will take over the operations of PLDT at a time when the telco is putting up with internal and external challenges.

Internally, PLDT is trying to overcome market saturation in broadband given that most Filipinos nowadays are already locked into a connectivity package. The telco has gained a profit of P18.41 billion as of June, almost the same as the P18.45 billion from a year ago.

Externally, PLDT is dealing with industry adjustments to the evolving demands for data services. The telco was the last to penetrate the low-cost segment, a market that its competitors Converge ICT Solutions Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. entered as early as last year.

Recently, mobile unit Smart Communications Inc. has also welcomed a new COO with the return of telco veteran Anastacio Martirez, who used to lead Smart during the long-gone era of unlicalls and unlitexts.

Notably, these appointments come at a time when the PLDT Group is searching for a new boss, a hunt led by chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan himself.