In an internal company memo seen by InsiderPH, Ayala president and CEO Cezar Consing said the veteran executive and former Cabinet secretary during the Aquino administration will transition to a new role within the conglomerate.
This leadership shift also involves Jaime Urquijo, Ayala’s chief sustainability & risk officer, taking on a broader portfolio in the group.
The government, external relations & affairs team will report directly to Jaime on Jan. 1, with a new head of state affairs slated to join next year.
In his new job as Ayala public affairs principal, Almendras will continue to provide advice, support, and will “liase regularly” with Jaime.
“Rene’s ability to bridge the public and private sectors is one of his special attributes,” Consing said of Almendras.
He also thanked Almendras for his years of service with the corporate giant, whose business portfolio spans banking, telecommunications, real estate, energy, manufacturing, and logistics.
“We are very grateful for Rene’s valuable contribution as a senior executive of the Ayala Group and look forward to continuing to benefit from his counsel and skill-set in his new role as public affairs principal,” Consing said.
Rene Almendras led Ayala’s public affairs group for eight years, served as president of AC Logistics for three years, and headed AC Infrastructure Holdings for nearly seven years. He also played key roles in Manila Water, AFPI Beep Card, and Ayala Land.
In the government, he served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, and Secretary of Energy over six years.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
