Ayala, Angkas feted for steward leadership

SCION Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, head of business development and digital innovation, received the SL25 award on behalf of Ayala Corp. —Contributed photo

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. and motorcycle taxi operator Angkas landed on the inaugural Steward Leadership 25 (SL25) roster, which recognizes the remarkable contributions of organizations across the Asia-Pacific to stakeholders, society and environment.

Ayala Corp. and motorcycle taxi operator Angkas landed on the inaugural Steward Leadership 25 (SL25) roster, which recognizes the remarkable contributions of organizations across the Asia-Pacific to stakeholders, society and environment.

The two Filipino firms were among 25 companies honored at the recently held Steward Leadership Summit organized in Singapore by Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC), INSEAD Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society, WTW and The Straits Times.

The award-giving body acknowledged the Ayala conglomerate’s COVID-19 response that benefited not only its own employees, partners and customers but the general public as well. Among its efforts was the purchase and administration of vaccines across the country.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic ensued, Ayala acted as a catalyst that allowed the emergence of several impact initiatives by its subsidiaries and projects in cooperation with external peers. AC Health, the Ayala Group’s health-care arm, played a critical role,” the SL25 committee says in its website.

Angkas, meanwhile, stood out for supporting the livelihood of motorcycle taxis, especially in a time of economic slump. According to its website, the ride-hailing service provider has 27,000 accredited bikers.

“By creating an app-based motorcycle taxi service that started five years ago, Angkas addressed these issues by providing an efficient and economical option for transportation while legitimizing motorcycle taxis and providing livelihood to thousands of ‘habal-habal’ riders, who were considered illegal,” the award-giving body says.

The 25 honorees were chosen out of 95 submissions across the region, coming from several industries including financial services, transportation, agribusiness and real estate.

The Steward Leadership excellence award was given to organizations that exhibited strong will to pursue agendas going beyond profit-making. In evaluating the entries, the judges assessed the impact of their initiatives and not according to their own disclosures.

“A rapidly changing world reinforces the principle of taking ownership to do the right thing, and a mindset shift that is critical to driving all of us to work together towards enduring value creation for the benefit of stakeholders, society, the environment and our future generations,” Temasek Holdings chair Lim Boon Heng says.

Included in the roster are Avtar Group from India; BNP Paribas Asset Management, Singapore; CapitaLand Investment Ltd., Singapore; City Developments Ltd., Singapore; DBS Bank Ltd., Asia-Pacific; Faber-Castell, Asia-Pacific; Farm Fresh Berhad, Malaysia; Foreword Coffee Pte. Ltd., Singapore; Genashtim Pte. Ltd., Singapore; GUAVA Amenities, Asia-Pacific; and Mandai Wildlife Group, Indonesia.

Other awardees are Marico Ltd., India; Mirvac Group, Australia; Noburo Platform Co. Ltd., Thailand; Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd., Singapore; reach52, Asia-Pacific; Sunway Group, Malaysia; Tata Consultancy Services, Singapore; Thai Wah Public Company Ltd., Thailand; The Social Kitchen Pte. Ltd., Singapore; UAL Biotech Pte. Ltd., Asia-Pacific; UBS AG, Asia-Pacific; United Overseas Bank Ltd., Asia-Pacific.

SAC CEO Rajeev Peshawaria says it is “heartening to see the efforts and persistence of so many organizations striving to create lasting positive change in the environment and community.”

“In honoring these 25 inspirational initiatives, our eventual goal is for steward leadership excellence to be the norm instead of the exception, where every firm is committed to establishing a win-win-win outcome for employees, shareholders and society at large,” Peshawaria adds.