Jaime Zobel de Ayala

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (born 1959) is a Filipino businessman. He currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer of the Ayala Corporation. His brother, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, is president of the corporation, while his father, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, was president until 1994 and currently holds the title of chairman emeritus. In addition to his position in the Ayala Corporation, Mr. Zobel is chairman of the Board of Directors of Globe Telecom, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI); vice chairman of the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Committee of Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI); vice chairman of Manila Water Co.; and co-vice chairman and trustee of Ayala Foundation, Inc. He is also a member of various international and local business and socio-civic organizations including the J.P. Morgan International Council, Mitsubishi Corporation International Advisory Committee, Toshiba International Advisory Group, Harvard University Asia Center Advisory Committee, Board of Trustees of the Asian Institute of Management, National Council member of the World Wildlife Fund (US), and Chairman of World Wildlife Fund (Philippines).

Honors include World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow in 1995; Emerging Markets CEO of the year in 1998 (sponsored by ING); Philippine TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) Award in 1999 and Management Association of the Philippines Management Man of the Year Award in 2006. Most recently, Mr. Zobel was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit on March 11, 2009 by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for “enhancing the prestige and honor of the Republic of the Philippines both at home and abroad.” On September 27, 2007, Ayala Corp. chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala was conferred the Harvard Business School’s highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, by Dean Jay O. Light. The award was also given to: Donna Dubinsky, A. Malachi Mixon of Invacare, Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP Group and Hansjorg Wyss of Synthes.

Zobel de Ayala received his MBA from HBS in 1987. Zobel de Ayala was cited for “his innovative, entrepreneurial style of management (that) has benefited both Ayala and an island nation that faces significant social and economic challenges.”[1] He is the first Filipino to receive this prestigious award. The Philippine Legion of Honor with rank of Grand Commander was awarded to Mr. Zobel on June 29, 2010. This is awarded by the President of the Republic of the Philippines to recognize outstanding public service that has benefitted the republic, particularly in the preservation of the honor of the country and in nation building. On November 25, 2010, Mr. Zobel received the Asia Talent Management Award at the 9th CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards held in Singapore. Mr. Zobel was recognized for “his personal involvement in supporting and nurturing leadership within the company.”

Zobel was quoted as saying that he and his brother Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president and COO of Ayala, consider succession planning as a critical element in ensuring the corporation’s sustainability. He was the third Filipino to be recognized by the annual program, following Globe Telecom CEO Gerardo Ablaza, Jr. who received the ABLA in 2004, and Jollibee CEO Tony Tan Caktiong for corporate citizenship in 2006.” [2][3] Mr. Zobel holds a B.A. degree in economics (cum laude) from Harvard College (1981), and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration (1987). He is married to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Eder Zobel, a descendant of Santiago Eder. The couple have four children.