Ayala joins global, CEO-led group

The country’s oldest business house, Ayala Corp., has debuted on the Geneva-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global chief executive officer-led organization of “forward-thinking” businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world.

It is the first Philippine company to be part of the global nonprofit organization, which has close to 200 members around the world.

“We are excited to be part of WBCSD and together with like-minded global institutions, work toward alleviating some of the development challenges our society faces today through sustainable businesses,” Ayala chair and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said in a statement on Monday.

“WBSCD’s vision is very much aligned with our own at the Ayala group as we increasingly integrate our country’s most pressing issues such as social and economic inclusivity, innovation and infrastructure development, and climate resiliency into the core of our business strategy and products and services,” Zobel added.

WBCSD’s member-companies come from all business sectors and major economies, representing a combined revenue of more than $8.5 trillion and with 19 million employees.

The organization is seen uniquely positioned to work with member-companies along and across value chains to deliver high-impact business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues.

“WBCSD is delighted to welcome Ayala as our newest member. Ayala’s leadership in sustainability is a beacon to large conglomerates across the world, showing how financial results can be integrated with wider impacts on people and societies. We look forward to working with Ayala to deepen their impact and help effect transformational change across the systems of our world,” said WBCSD president and CEO Peter Bakker.

By connecting with WBCSD’s network of forward-thinking businesses across a variety of sectors, Ayala aims to make an even wider impact on global corporate sustainability.

In addition to its sustainability initiatives, Ayala’s commitment to nation building is reinforced by the social and cultural programs of its Ayala Foundation, which helps improve lives through programs in education, youth leadership, sustainable livelihoods and arts and culture.

One of the Philippines’ biggest and most diversified conglomerates, Ayala is a major player in real estate, financial services, water and telecommunications. It seeks to help make the country’s economic growth more inclusive by building sustainable communities, widening access to financial services, improving connectivity and providing clean water. It also has emerging enterprises in infrastructure, energy, industrial technologies, health care and education.

Established in 1834, Ayala has grown to now employ close to 45,000 people across the Philippines.