InsiderPH learned that Javier Hernandez, one of Ayala Land's most seasoned executives, joined the Andrew Tan-led property giant starting yesterday, June 17, adding another high-profile name to the growing list of Ayala veterans making the jump.
Hernandez spent about two decades helping build the Ayala Malls business before moving on to lead Ayala’s hospitality and resort operations, where he oversaw the expansion of Seda Hotels and the group’s tourism estate ventures.
Now, Hernandez is returning to familiar territory: the mall business.
His move comes as the president and chief executive of the Alliance Global Group (Megaworld's parent firm) Kevin Tan continues to assemble a formidable bench of industry veterans as the company expands its footprint across retail, hospitality and township developments. The recruitment drive has been difficult for rivals to ignore.
Hernandez is at least the sixth former Ayala Land executive to migrate to Megaworld within the past year alone, joining the influx of other key real estate officials moving in from Rockwell Land and Shangri-La Properties.
The steady flow of executives has fueled industry talk that Megaworld is no longer simply competing with Ayala Land in projects and market share—it is increasingly competing for the people who built many of those businesses in the first place.
The latest development is particularly notable because Hernandez represents a rare combination of retail, hospitality and estate management experience. During his long career at Ayala, he played key roles in the growth of the mall business before moving into the hotel and resort segment, eventually becoming one of the group’s top hospitality executives.
For Megaworld, the addition reinforces a broader strategy that has become increasingly visible over the past year: bring in executives with deep experience in premium developments and large-scale operations as the company pushes into new growth areas.
Whether the latest move is part of a larger organizational shakeup remains to be seen. But one thing is becoming clear: when it comes to attracting top property-sector talent, Tan and his team are not just fishing—they are landing some of the industry's biggest catches.
Senior Reporter
