Mantaring named one of region’s best execs

SUN Life Philippines CEO Riza Mantaring

Sun Life Financial Philippines chief executive and country head Rizalina Mantaring has become the first female executive from the Philippines to be honored by global broadcasting firm CNBC at the Asia Business Leader Awards (ABLA), which fete remarkable executives who “induce positive changes in an evolving corporate Asia.”

Mantaring bagged the “Asia Talent Management Award” at the ABLA 2017 in a ceremony held recently in Shanghai, China. She was cited for being a leader who “recognizes the importance of talent in both word and deed” and for committing to “supporting, developing, and retaining talent, as well as nurturing the next generation of leaders in Asia.”

KC Sullivan, president and managing director at CNBC International, said: “The ABLAs, now in their 16th year, continue to mark out exceptional leaders and provide inspiration to aspiring business executives across this dynamic region.”

Under Mantaring’s leadership, Sun Life became the leading life insurance company in the Philippines. The company has held on to this position for many years now amid aggressive competition and challenging market conditions.

In a press statement on Friday, Sun Life Asia president Claude Accum said: “Riza is truly deserving of the honor. Her accomplishments in leading Sun Life in the Philippines has been such an inspiration for the rest of our Asia offices, and I know that we will continue to see her shine bright in the future.”

For her part, Mantaring dedicated the honor to the Sun Life Financial Philippines team, saying the success of the organization relied heavily on the work of the collective.

“For a company like ours that offers products that are not tangible, it’s really the employees and the advisors who enable Sun Life to connect with clients and demonstrate what we stand for,” Mantaring said. “They are the ones who set us apart from the rest, and it’s when they shine that Sun Life shines.”

CNBC gave the 2017 Asia Business Leader of the Year award to Ajay Piramal, chair of India’s Piramal Group, for “transforming the company into one of India’s foremost business conglomerates, operating in 30 countries and having a brand presence in over 100 countries.”