His resignation comes more than a month after he went on leave last Sept. 8, following employee complaints over workplace culture that surfaced internally and online.
The telco giant launched a formal probe before his exit was announced late Wednesday.
Martirez, who rejoined Smart in 2024 after nearly two decades, plans to pursue entrepreneurial ventures outside Smart, the memo showed.
What’s next?
Lloyd Dennis R. Manaloto and Marjorie C. Garrovillo have been serving as officers-in-charge of Smart’s wireless business since Sept. 8.
Manaloto is first vice president for strategy and corporate brand while Garrovillo joined Smart last July 1 as first vice president for marketing, brand head, and sales and development head.
“Wireless management has been tasked to build on the gains Mr. Martirez has achieved during his tenure,” an insider said.
These ventures include the revival of Smart Money and Gen Z-focused mobile brand KiQ.
A surprise comeback
Martirez joined Smart in September last year, vowing to revive the brand and reclaim its lead over the Ayala Group’s Globe Telecom.
His return was personally backed by Pangilinan, who believed Martirez could replicate his winning campaigns from the early 2000s that made Smart the market leader.
Even then, some executives were wary about his comeback, concerned that his domineering management style might clash with today’s more balanced approach to work, an insider said.
After he was hired, he wasted no time making a solid public impression.
During the GSMA Digital Nation Summit last Nov. 26, he boldly declared plans to reclaim market leadership from Globe and overtake mobile payments giant GCash, the country’s No. 4 financial gateway.
“We were the first in the industry to introduce Smart Money, ahead of GCash,” he told the crowd of global telco and tech executives.
“I’m back. I want to bring it back. I want to rebuild, and I hope I can retake,” he added.
Internal tensions
Behind the scenes, problems were brewing as Martirez began pushing for changes within the firm.
Some of these tensions surfaced a few months into his tenure after Kristine Go, a senior executive at Smart, suddenly resigned.
InsiderPH reached out to Martirez in early 2025 about the resignation, but he denied that there were any issues.
Business performance
There was also pressure from the PLDT Group for stronger performance from its telco unit amid intensifying competition with Globe and industry challenger DITO.
In May 2025, rumors started to spread that Martirez would be replaced in the second half of the year.
InsiderPH sought comments from PLDT and Smart executives, including Martirez, who all said there were no leadership changes being planned.
Toxic Smart?
Then in late August, a Reddit thread titled “Toxic Smart?” surfaced, with posts from people who appeared to be employees describing the hostile work environment in the company marked by long hours, demeaning language, and public berating.
The original thread eventually drew 450 comments, but many were later deleted by users who feared being identified after a witch hunt was launched within the telco.
To be fair, a follow-up thread later appeared with comments defending Martirez’s leadership style, citing his past successes. The discussion drew 29 comments.
Smart was already probing the workplace complaints, but it was only after the Reddit thread emerged that a formal investigation was announced by the company.
He was placed on leave until his resignation on Oct. 21—a total of 32 working days.
Smooth transition
In his memo, Pangilinan said Manaloto and Garrovillo will remain as co-OICs of the wireless business.
Manaloto has been with Smart since 2004 and has two decades of experience in telecommunications, media, and consumer goods.
Garrovillo previously served as chief marketing officer of Nestlé Philippines, where she managed brands for the Swiss consumer goods conglomerate.
Both executives are graduates of Ateneo de Manila University: Garrovillo completed a degree in Management Economics a few years before Manaloto finished his Management Engineering program.
She also completed executive and leadership programs at London Business School and IMD.
For now, Manaloto and Garrovillo will focus on keeping operations running smoothly while rebuilding morale across the firm.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
