Francis Monera to assume post of CHI president/CEO

Francis O. Monera will be assuming the post of president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cebu Holdings Inc. effective January 1.

Monera, who is currently the executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of the company will take over the position now held by Rene Almendras.

Almendras will move up to Ayala Corporation to assume new responsibilities as one of the Managing Directors.

However, Almendras will retain his seat in the CHI board of directors, CHI announced.

Monera, on the other hand, is one of the pioneering executives that built the Ayala Land affiliate-CHI in Cebu over a decade ago. Monera, also is now the president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Almendras, who is also vice president of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), heads the Operations Transformation Group composed of the Technology Management Division, Change Management, Knowledge Management and Strategic Procurement Division.

Numerous projects were launched during Almendras' term as CHI president since June 2001 these are City Sports Club Cebu, the Ayala Food and Entertainment Center, real estate best-seller Amara, and ALI-Vismin's latest residential subdivision in Negros, Plantazionne Verdana Homes.

Currently undergoing construction are the expansion building and the lagoon redevelopment at Ayala Center Cebu.

In his more than five years in the company, he also introduced a number of changes encompassing organizational strengthening, innovative technology, avant-garde marketing strategies and cost-efficient schemes.

According to CHI, one of his main thrusts was the introduction of customer-centric innovations to compliment the company's products. Thus, the text feedback and Total Customer Satisfaction Management System (TCS-MS) were implemented to ensure that concerns and complaints of the customers were heard and addressed.

In 2004, CHI initiated a re-branding of its corporate image as a renewed commitment of the organization to improve its systems and processes.

Also during Almendras' watch, more emphasis was given on personnel competency and employee well-being. To promote camaraderie and a well-rounded lifestyle among employees, the CHI Personality and Lifestyle Upliftment Strategy (CHI P.L.U.S.) was launched in 2003.

Through this program, the company supports and encourages employees to engage in sports, creative exercises, hobbies and various other activities.

Highlighting Almendras' last year as president of CHI was the awarding of ISO certificates in quality, environment and health & safety earlier this year. This makes CHI the first full-line real estate company in the country to be certified in all three standards, putting it at par with the best companies in the rest of the world. - Ehda M. Dagooc