Fernando Zobel returns as AC Health chair

MANILA, Philippines — Tycoon Fernando Zobel de Ayala has returned as chairman of AC Health, the Ayala Group’s health arm.

This marks yet another move in his continuing phased return to senior positions of governance at the Ayala Group after resigning last year due to health reasons.

Zobel was elected by AC Health’s board of directors as chairman on Monday. He previously served as AC Health chairman from November 2016 to September 2022.

“I am very happy to see that the first dedicated cancer specialty hospital in the country is very near completion,” Zobel said.

“We look forward to finally opening the facility so we can fulfill our promise of providing quality ‘care beyond cure’ to Filipino patients,” he said.

As chairman, Zobel supported AC Health’s growth and expansion including the acquisition of Healthway Philippines and a majority stake into QualiMed Health Network, which are now integrated as one group under the Healthway Medical Network brand.

Zobel also supported AC Health’s partnership with Siemens, Varian, and CTSI for the construction and design of the country’s first dedicated cancer specialty hospital, the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital in Arca South, Taguig City.

Furthermore, he also pushed for the consolidation of the group’s healthtech companies into the KonsultaMD super app as a joint venture with Globe’s 917Ventures.

Under his leadership, AC Health also invested in IE Medica and MedEthix, complementing the group’s existing retail network of Generika Drugstores and strengthening the company’s pharma supply chain, making quality medicines accessible to more Filipinos.

Last week, Zobel also rejoined the board of BPI, the conglomerate’s banking arm, as a director and a member of the executive committee and personnel and compensation committee.

As part of his new role, Zobel visited the now nearly complete Healthway Cancer Care Hospital together with Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, AC Health president and CEO Paolo Borromeo, and other executives of the AC Health group.

When he was CEO of Ayala Corp., Zobel led the groundbreaking of the facility in 2021.

Following his resignation as CEO last year, he has returned as special advisor to the holding company, and Ayala Land Inc., the listed property giant.