His appointment comes after months of rapid leadership shifts at the tollway operator, including tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan briefly serving as interim CEO and Jose Ma. “Joey” Lim being pulled from retirement earlier this year.
Rapid leadership changes
Arrey Perez, the former Clark International Airport president, also held the role of MPTC president for just 100 days before exiting in another reshuffle.
Santa Maria now succeeds Lim, who took over last March but stepped aside as the company continued to recalibrate its leadership team.
Focus on growth, expansion
“As president and CEO, Santa Maria will lead MPTC’s strategic growth while strengthening its customer-centric approach to serve millions of motorists and the commuting public across its tollway network,” MPTC said in a statement.
“He will help optimize the company’s operations while steering its continued expansion of toll road businesses in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam,” it added.
Management changes
MPTC named Luis Reñon as president and general manager of North Luzon Expressway Corp., and Andrew Pangilinan of Metro Pacific Water will concurrently lead MPT South, which manages the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX).
Marisa Conde, vice president for technical finance at Metro Pacific Investments Corp., was also appointed officer-in-charge and interim chief finance officer of MPTC.
MPTC, the country’s largest toll road operator, manages major expressways including the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), and the NLEX Connector Road, making it a critical growth engine for parent Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
