She succeeds Jose Teodoro "TG" K. Limcaoco, president and CEO of Bank of the Philippine Islands, who spent three years tightening industry defenses—backing the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, pushing anti-fraud coordination, and improving platform connectivity to support the surge in digital transactions.
Those efforts laid the groundwork for a safer, more connected banking system, but also raised the bar as risks evolve alongside rapid digital adoption.
Leadership shift
“What excites me most is that as bankers, ours is an industry that has the ability to uplift lives and fuel economic progress by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of banking services. As we see the acceleration of digitalization and the potential of AI, we face a next generation of risks that extend beyond individual institutions and national borders. These risks are further compounded by the economic impact arising from geopolitical uncertainty that faces us,” Aboitiz-Delgado said.
Raising the bar on digital defense
Aboitiz-Delgado is expected to push deeper coordination across banks, regulators, and regional partners as risks become more interconnected and harder to contain at the institution level.
Coordination becomes the play
“So together, they really underscore the importance of being peaceful in advancing industry-wide standards and deepening collaboration with each other, the central bank, and the communities we serve. So that trust and confidence in the financial system is not only preserved, but is strengthened,” she added.
Joining her in the new leadership team are Fabian S. Dee, president of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company; Lynette V. Ortiz, president and CEO of Land Bank of the Philippines; Joseph Albert L. Gotuaco, president of BDO Private Bank, Inc.; and Paul Raymond A. Favila, chief executive officer of Citibank, N.A., with Elfren Antonio S. Sartre Jr. appointed as managing director, replacing Benjamin P. Castillo.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
