Lance Gokongwei, Chito Salazar named MAP Management Persons of the Year

Insider Spotlight

• JG Summit president and CEO Lance Gokongwei and PHINMA president and COO Chito Salazar are the MAP Management Persons of the Year for 2026.
• Gokongwei was recognized for transforming the family conglomerate into a professionally managed institution.
• The award recognizes outstanding leadership, management excellence and contributions to Philippine economic development.

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has named JG Summit Holdings Inc. president and CEO Lance Gokongwei and PHINMA Corp. president and COO Chito Salazar as its Management Persons of the Year for 2026.

The business organization announced the selection on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, recognizing the two executives for their leadership, management accomplishments and contributions to Philippine business and society.

The recognition places Gokongwei and Salazar among a select group of business and government leaders honored by MAP over the award's six-decade history.

Lance Gokongwei

The chief of the sprawling Gokongwei empire transformed the group into a professionally managed conglomerate.

Building enduring institutions

Gokongwei was cited for transforming the Gokongwei Group into a professionally managed institution capable of sustaining growth across generations.

Under his leadership, the conglomerate has developed into one of the Philippines' largest and most diversified business groups, with interests spanning food manufacturing, aviation, property development, petrochemicals and financial services.

JG Summit's major businesses include Universal Robina Corp., Cebu Air Inc., Robinsons Land Corp. and JG Summit Olefins Corp.

Gokongwei, whose father John Gokongwei Jr. founded the business empire, has overseen the group's transition toward professional management while maintaining family ownership.

Chito Salazar

The Phinma chief expanded the education portfolio of the company into a nationwide network.

Leadership beyond business

Salazar, meanwhile, serves as president and COO of PHINMA Corp., a diversified Philippine company with investments in education, construction materials, property development and hospitality.

PHINMA has expanded its education business through a network of schools serving students across the Philippines and overseas.

The group's business strategy emphasizes providing affordable education and essential products and services to underserved communities.

A prestigious distinction

MAP said the Management Person of the Year award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, integrity and management capabilities while contributing to national development.

Candidates undergo a stringent selection process evaluating their business accomplishments, ethical standards, stewardship and contributions to nation-building.

The organization said the distinction has been conferred only 51 times throughout its six-decade history.

Recipients need not be MAP members, with the award open to qualified leaders from both the private and public sectors.

— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas