Former key PLDT exec named Dito CME president

Once a candidate to head the country’s largest telecommunications company, PLDT Inc., Ernesto “Eric” Alberto was named president of emerging rival Dito CME Holdings.

Dito CME said in stock exchange filing that Alberto would assume the role of company president on Monday, replacing Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy, who would remain chair and CEO.

Dito CME will become the holding company of telco startup Dito Telecommunity, a venture between Uy’s Udenna Corp. and state-run China Telecom.

Alberto was the previous chief revenue officer of PLDT, a position second only to chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

He left in July 2019 due to internal disagreements and joined Dito CME as an independent director on July 28, weeks after his one-year noncompete restriction with PLDT ended.

On Friday, Dito CME said it would find a replacement independent director to take Alberto’s place in the board.

Alberto, who worked for almost two decades in PLDT, brings needed experience to the group as Dito Telecommunity seeks to launch commercial services by March 2021.

Prior to joining PLDT in 2003, Alberto was with American financial giant Citibank.

The Inquirer reported Alberto’s prospective entry into Dito last February. In that interview, Alberto said Uy was a perso­nal friend and he remained keen on working in the industry.

“I’m not a spring chicken but it’s also too early to retire,” Alberto said.

As president, he will steer Dito through a challenging period as businesses adjust to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dito CME will also invest in e-payments, content production and advertising.

Dito Telecommunity, the group’s telco arm, was earlier selected to be the country’s new major telecommunications player to challenge incumbents PLDT and Globe Telecom.

However, it also encountered delays during its rollout due to COVID-19, forcing it to seek an extension from the National Telecommunications Commission last July.

Dito Telecommunity committed to cover 37 percent of the population and offer a minimum average internet speed of 27 megabits per second on its first year. By the end of its fifth year, Dito committed to cover 84 percent of the population and offer internet speeds of 55 mbps.