RLC names GoBio its first woman CEO

Ma. Socorro Isabelle Aragon-GoBio

Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) will welcome in February its first woman chief executive, with Lance Gokongwei stepping down from his post as president and CEO amid a “new chapter of growth” for the company and a challenging environment for the residential real estate sector.

RLC on Monday disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange that its board of directors had appointed Ma. Socorro Isabelle Aragon-GoBio as Gokongwei’s successor effective on Feb. 1.

Gokongwei, who also heads his family’s conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc., will remain RLC’s chair.

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At the same time, Robina Gokongwei-Pe will vacate her seat as director to give way to GoBio.

“Ms Aragon-GoBio brings with her a wealth of experience, deep industry expertise and a forward-thinking vision that will drive Robinsons Land Corp. into a new chapter of growth and innovation,” the RLC board said in a statement.

“Her steadfast commitment to operational excellence, customer-centricity, agile approach and sustainable development will undoubtedly strengthen RLC’s market leadership and create long-term value for all stakeholders,” it added.

GoBio, currently RLC’s senior vice president for Robinsons Destination Estates and business unit general manager, has 30 years of experience in the industry.

She joined RLC in 1993 and has since held various leadership positions in logistics, residential and office developments, and mixed-use estates.

Some of RLC’s most notable real estate projects—Bridgetowne in Pasig and Quezon City, Sierra Valley in Rizal province and Montclair in Pampanga province—were developed under her leadership.

Concurrently president and CEO of Robinsons Logistix and Industrials Inc., GoBio established the logistics facilities division as a “cornerstone of RLC’s portfolio,” according to the developer.

She will likewise steer RLC amid a highly challenging time for the real estate sector, with unsold residential units piling up in Metro Manila alone.

Real estate investment management firm Colliers Philippines found in its year-end 2024 report that it would take nearly six years to fully sell out finished units in the capital region.

Earnings of RLC’s residential business slipped by 23.5 percent in the first nine months of 2024 to P6.46 billion due to a weaker middle-income segment.

Still, RLC said GoBio’s appointment reflected the company’s commitment to “leadership excellence and innovation in the real estate industry.”

Earlier in her career, GoBio also led RLC’s high-rise buildings division and “significantly contributed” to the company’s revenues through residential condominium and office projects, RLC added.

GoBio earned her bachelor’s degree in management engineering from Ateneo de Manila University in 1993 and completed a minor in international business from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. INQ