Ayala Corp. CEO Cezar P. Consing, meanwhile, has been elevated to chair of Globe following the company’s 2026 organizational meeting, succeeding Zobel in the role.
Carl Cruz is now in his second year as Globe CEO, having taken over from long-time CEO Ernest Cu in 2025.
Leadership transition
Zobel is leaving the board after 37 years of service, including 30 years as chairman, marking the end of a tenure that transformed the company into the country’s leading digital telco.
Apart from Globe, Zobel also serves as chair of the Ayala Group’s key listed units, including Ayala Corp., Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Ayala Land.
He joined the board in the late 1980s, just ahead of the telecommunications boom that made mobile connectivity widely accessible, positioning him to steer Globe through a period of rapid industry change.
Architect of transformation, rise of GCash
“JAZA has been the principal architect of Globe’s evolution from a cable company into the country’s first digital telco and today’s leading mobile network operator,” Globe said.
During his tenure, Globe pursued major strategic moves, including the Globe-Mackay merger with Clavecilla Radio Corporation, its long-standing partnership with Singtel, and the acquisitions of IslaCom, Bayantel, and Vega Telecom, laying the groundwork for its shift beyond traditional telecom.
He then oversaw Globe’s transformation into a digital gateway, most notably through the rise of GCash, the country’s dominant fintech platform.
These initiatives, alongside a massive network and IT modernization program, helped usher in the age of data in Philippine telecommunications
Legacy and continuity
“Globe would not be the institution it is today without JAZA’s vision and belief in what Globe could achieve,” Globe said.
“With JAZA stepping down as our beloved chairman, JAZA will continue to support Globe in his capacity as Chairman of Asiacom Philippines, Inc., the joint venture company of Ayala Corp and Singtel, the major shareholders of Globe,” it added.
Zobel also championed sustainability, with Globe becoming a climate leader and the first publicly listed company in the country to secure validation of its net-zero roadmap from SBTI, while expanding into adjacent businesses through ventures such as Kickstart Ventures, 917Ventures, Asticom, Brave Group, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centers.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
