Manuel V. Pangilinan has spent decades assembling one of the country’s most diversified business groups.
Now, the time to pass the reins on to the next generation is nearing. And he already has a list of names.
“I just spoke to the HR people this morning. I said, we need to identify the first ones down. And name them,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino as reporters huddled around him. “And then the second down from my level, we will name them. I have a few names already, younger people.”
His remarks came during a Meralco briefing on Wednesday, July 29, but the succession question extends far beyond the distribution giant because Pangilinan continues to hold top positions across the wider MVP group.
Unlike the family empires of the Sys, Gokongweis, or Aboitizes, the MVP group is not housed under a single listed conglomerate. It’s a web of companies anchored on telecommunications giants PLDT and Smart, Meralco, and its power generation arm MGen, and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s interests in toll roads, Maynilad, hospitals, property, and agriculture.
