Empowering the masses through financial inclusion

MANILA, Philippines - Growing the family’s pawnshop business from the island of Cebu to what it is now – one of the country’s largest micro financial institutions – is a feather in Jean Henri  Lhuillier’s  cap.

Since taking over the management of the company from his father, Philippe Jones Lhuillier in 1998, Jean Henri has turned Cebuana Lhuillier from a simple pawnshop business into one of the country’s largest  non bank financial services providers with more than 1,800 branches nationwide.

As president and chief executive officer of Cebuana Lhuillier, Jean Henri has steered the company toward growth and  expansion, with services now ranging  from  micro loans, bills payment, electronic loading, business-to-business collections  and money remittance.

 “At Cebuana Lhuillier, we believe in empowering the masses through financial inclusion. We are at the forefront of the micro financial industry with all of our products enabling our clients to gain financial access and security. This is the program that, I believe, will have a lasting positive impact on the country,” Jean Henri said.

 “We are also a dominant player in micro insurance, offering the most affordable premiums as well as more than 20 unique and specially-designed insurance packages to help Filipinos prepare for whatever unforeseen circumstances they may find themselves in,” he said.

Responsible for bringing Cebuana Lhuillier branches from Cebu City to almost all cities and municipalities nationwide, Jean Henri is also known for his management skills and ability to study  his target market  more effectively.

“It is important to understand the needs of your clients. At Cebuana Lhuillier, we know a lot about our clients and the market we serve. We open channels to our clients in so many ways, like our customer care hotline, our social networking sites, and our website. It is very important to constantly receive feedback as this allows us to serve them better and be the best in what we do,” Jean Henri said.

Jean Herni also believes in hiring the right people. “Surround yourself with employees that understand and support your vision. It is crucial that the entire organization is in sync with the mission you want the company to undertake – everyone must truly understand the products and services you offer,” he said.

According to Jean Henri, his strong business skills are some of the characteristics he inherited from his father. 

 “My dad is very hard working. He is honest, never wanting to fool anybody.  He made a lot of sacrifices in life.  These are qualities I emulate. I learned from him how to handle people and manage issues using a top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach,” Jean Henri said  when asked  how his father influenced his management style.

Jean Henri said while  his father  taught him the ropes of the business and   strongly influenced   his management style,   it was his mother  who   instilled into  him the virtue of honesty. “She taught me to always speak from the heart. My mother doesn’t really like speaking too often, but when she does, everyone listens,” he  said.

Sports development program

Aside from providing micro financial solutions to the public, Jean Henri has also been spearheading some of the country’s sports development programs, particularly in the grassroots level.

Jean Henri has been at the forefront of developing national teams for basketball, softball, and tennis. He currently sits as the president of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines, chairman of the Board of the Philippine Tennis Association, and team manager of the Philippine Davis Cup Team.

His stint as consul general of San Marino  has also given him recognition. Lhuillier was given the title Official Knight of the Equestrian Order of Saint Agatha by the Republic of San Marino – a title that is usually reserved for those who have served the country for at least 10 years. He was conferred Knighthood after serving only for seven years.

 “It must be in recognition of the various programs I spearheaded that helped promote the culture, trade, and social programs of San Marino,” Jean Henri said.