AC bares core focus for growth

Building on its record core earnings of P45 billion in 2024, Ayala Corp. (AC), the country’s oldest conglomerate, is adopting a more focused and collaborative approach across its businesses to sustain its growth momentum.

“Our priority is to build a much more focused, highly collaborative Ayala, and meaningfully relevant to our stakeholders and communities,” chairperson Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said during the company’s annual stockholders meeting on Friday.

AC president and CEO Cezar P. Consing expressed cautious optimism despite ongoing global uncertainties. 

He said strengthening significant and emerging businesses, while leveraging synergies across the group, will allow AC to continue delivering long-term value.

The group has committed P230 billion in capital expenditures to support businesses with significant growth potential. 

“2025 could be an inflection year for our smaller businesses. Each of them undertook major rationalization initiatives last year, and we should begin to see the payoffs of such moves this year,” Consing said.

Among the emerging units, AC Health is set to expand its hospital and multi-specialty clinic footprint. 

Long-term EV growth

AC Mobility will continue to scale its electric vehicle business by investing in company-owned dealerships and charging infrastructure, positioning itself for long-term growth in the sector. 

AC Logistics, meanwhile, will focus on growing its local business through its partnership with global firm A.P. Møller Capital.

The company also announced the election of Emmanuel “Manny” P. Maceda, chairman of Bain & Company, to its Board of Directors. Maceda replaced former Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, who served as an independent director since 2022.

“We are excited to have Manny join us. He has advised global CEOs on large-scale transformations, strategy, growth and organizational effectiveness.” 

His experience and expertise align with Ayala’s thinking and direction for the future, covering new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and stakeholder-centric capitalism, among many others,” Zobel said.