PLDT exec emerges in Finance Asia poll as best CEO in region

Napoleon Nazareno of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) was named best regional CEO in an investor poll conducted by Hong Kong-based Finance Asia.

Nazareno, who has led the company since 2004, has been cited for his role in transforming PLDT’s business from a landline and voice-call service provider into a broadband-driven, multimedia service provider.

PLDT, the country’s biggest telecommunications provider, was cited in five other categories in the 14th Finance Asia survey, which was conducted among investors and analysts from February to March 2014.

For the sixth consecutive year, PLDT ranked number one in the Best Investor Relations and Most Committed to a Strong Dividend Policy categories, according to a statement issued over the weekend.

“This recognition affirms how committed we are in consistently adding value to the investments of our shareholders,” PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan said in the statement.

“As an example, PLDT has maintained a policy of declaring 100 percent of its core income as cash dividends for shareholders, with cumulative payout reaching P310 billion for the past 10 years,” he added.

In other categories, PLDT ranked second in the Best Corporate Governance (from number 4 last year), Best Managed Company (from number 7 last year), and Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) categories.

This is the first year PLDT was recognized for its CSR efforts, which emphasizes its leadership not only in the telco business but also in social responsibility, particularly in disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts, as well as community building and employee volunteer programs geared toward education, poverty alleviation and social entrepreneurship.

“We at PLDT are most appreciative of all these recognitions from the investor community, and we will continue to change lives by providing world-class integrated services that benefit all our stakeholders,” Nazareno said in the same statement.

The Finance Asia poll also recognized other units from the MVP Group of Companies for their CSR initiatives, including Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Philex Mining Corp., and Metro Pacific Investments, which was also cited in the Best Managed Companies category.

Finance Asia, a leading online and magazine publication reporting on Asia’s financial and capital markets, annually carries out the ‘Asia’s Best Companies’ survey to determine the best performing establishments in the region.

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