AboitizPower CEO named Entrepreneur of the Year

AboitizPower CEO named Entrepreneur of the Year
Business World Online
October 12, 2011

Erramon I. Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of AboitizPower Corp., was named the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2011 in an awards banquet held last night at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Mr. Aboitiz was recognized for his exemplary vision, leadership and financial expertise, which allowed him to transform AboitizPower from a regional power distributor into a dynamic power generator and distributor operating nationwide.

Guided by his vision of providing stable, affordable and environment-friendly energy throughout the country, AboitizPower has acquired a diverse range of power assets, allowing it to tailor-fit offerings to the needs of Filipino consumers while promoting the use of clean and renewable energy.

Mr. Aboitiz will represent the Philippines in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2012.

Mr. Aboitiz also received the category award for Master Entrepreneur 2011. He was recognized for applying sound management practices in critical areas of the company, including finance, marketing, human resources and sales. A firm believer in innovation, he led the company to pioneer the construction of small hydroelectric plants around the country, developing the expertise to quickly and efficiently build under-15 megawatt plants. His commitment to promoting sustainability also led to the launch of Cleanenergy, the company’s brand of clean and renewable energy from hydroelectric and geothermal plants.

Other category awards presented were for the Emerging Entrepreneur, Innovation Entrepreneur, Social Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur and Woman Entrepreneur categories.

Ferdinand Y. Marañon, president and CEO of Sagrex Corp., was presented with the Emerging Entrepreneur award for exemplifying the start-up process. Mr. Marañon established his company to improve the volume and quality of the country’s farm produce, applying innovation and technology to develop packing products, quick-freezing technology, and an entire line of frozen food items.

Bienvenido V. Tantoco III, president of Rustan Supercenters, Inc., received the Innovation Entrepreneur award for turning around and growing his company through exceptional change management skills. Mr. Tantoco’s resourcefulness, sound financial practices and winning people skills allowed him to reverse the fortunes of his companies, nursing them back to profitability.

Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camille D. Meloto, founders of Gandang Kalikasan, Inc., were named Social Entrepreneur for building an organization that champions social transformation for the marginalized and the poor. Tapping the residents of Gawad Kalinga communities for their work force and farming communities for raw materials, the sisters began manufacturing and marketing a full line of world-class organic products that also provided vital livelihood to marginalized communities.

Reynaldo T. Paulino, managing director of Kraftika Filipina, was presented the Small Business Entrepreneur award for best demonstrating management excellence in a business with assets amounting to less than P100 million. Mr. Paulino produces high-quality fashion accessories and decorative home pieces using indigenous materials. These items have been featured in international trade shows and are carried by local and global designer brands.

Maria Fe P. Agudo, president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., received the Woman Entrepreneur award for blazing a trail in entrepreneurship, leadership and community development. Her marketing insights and strategic initiatives lifted Hyundai to become the third top-ranked automotive brand in the country in a span of less than 10 years.

Recipients of category awards were chosen from among 17 finalists from diverse industries. The others finalists were Francisco M. Bernardo III (Let’s Go Foundation, Inc.); Raul Anthony D. Concepcion, (Concepcion Durables, Inc.); Bernard Faustino M. Dy, (University of Perpetual Help Systems-Isabela); Prudencio S. Garcia, (Mekeni Food Corp.); Jaime Enrique Y. Gonzalez, (IPVG Corp.); Pacita U. Juan (Earth Life Store Supply, Inc.); Ronnel C. Rivera, (Gensan Shipyard & Machine Works, Inc.); Genevieve Ledesma-Tan, (Southville International School and Colleges), Winston P. Uy, (Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc.); and Francis Glenn L. Yu, (SEAOIL Phils., Inc.).

“For the past eight years, we have honored Filipino entrepreneurs who are, collectively and individually, driving the Philippine economy. The quality of this year’s finalists has shone through in the work they have done and they have been deemed role models in their respective industries,” SGV Chairman and Managing Partner and SGV Foundation Chairman Cirilo P. Noel said in his speech.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program was founded in the United States by professional services firm Ernst & Young in 1986. In the Philippines, SGV Foundation, Inc. established the program in 2003. Co-presenters are De La Salle University, Department of Trade and Industry, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Stock Exchange and Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Program sponsor is SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel.