Fernando Zobel named MAP’s Man of the Year

MANILA, Philippines — Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president and chief operating officer of Ayala Corp. is this year’s “Management Man of the Year.”

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) announced Zobel’s award in its annual general assembly yesterday.

With the accolade, Zobel joins a long roster of individuals in the business community or government who have attained unquestioned distinction in the practice of management and for contributing to the country’s progress.

Zobel, the second son of Ayala family patriarch Don Jaime, was chosen for “helping steer the Ayala Group to being consistently ranked by the global investor  community as among the best in the Philippines for management excellence, corporate governance, sustainability, and people management.”

As chairman of Ayala Land Inc., Zobel was also recognized for “nurturing the strategic transformation of Ayala Land by improving the commercial and residential landscape of several areas all over the country, and by being a solid proponent of providing greater access to affor-dable housing to help augment the country’s housing backlog.”

MAP also recognized his active participation in non-government organizations and in the arts.

“He was chosen…for his support and leadership in nation-building organizations, such as Centex (education), Habitat for Humanity (housing), HERO Foundation (fallen soldiers), Caritas (church), Asia Society (culture), and National Museum of the Philippines (arts),” MAP said.

MAP noted Zobel’s invaluable contribution to re-shaping national values through his track record of integrity, professional competence, and strong leadership.

His brother Jaime, chairman of Ayala and who received the same award in 2006, said Fernando’s award was well deserved.

“I am absolutely delighted to hear that Fernando was awarded the Management Man of the Year Award. For both his contributions to his many responsibilities in Ayala and for the many contributions in the non-profit world, the award is richly deserved. I am very happy for him,” the elder Zobel told The STAR yesterday.

The conferment of the award follows a thorough, stringent selection process.  The distinction of “MAP Management Man of the Year” has only been conferred 42 times in the five-decade history of the award.