Billionaire Ramon Ang of the Philippines has appointed his son, John Paul Ang, as the new president and chief operating officer of San Miguel, the country’s top brewer. The elder Ang, who has been leading the company as vice chairman, president, and CEO, will now take on the role of chairman and chief executive. This management shuffle marks the beginning of a leadership transition within the conglomerate, but Ang, at 70, has stated that retirement is not in his plans for the next five years. He plans to guide the company while allowing his son to take on more operational responsibilities, similar to the training he received under his mentor, the late former San Miguel chairman and CEO Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.
John Paul Ang, 44, has a full plate of projects ahead of him, including the construction of a new airport and the upgrade of the main international gateway in Manila. He will also oversee joint ventures with other billionaires Manuel Pangilinan and Sabin Aboitiz to build a liquified natural gas facility and a mass rail transit system. The estimated cost of these projects under the elder Ang’s leadership is around $20 billion. The largest project is the new international airport complex in Bulacan, with an initial capacity of 35 million passengers per year and a target of 100 million once completed.
Analysts view the younger Ang’s appointment as a positive move, ensuring a smooth succession plan for the company. With his diverse background in interdisciplinary studies and experience in building Eagle Cement under his father’s guidance, John Paul Ang is seen as a capable leader to take on the challenges ahead. The acquisition of Eagle Cement by San Miguel in 2022 allowed the elder Ang to consolidate his cement interests and increase his stake in the company’s controlling shareholder.
Ramon Ang has been instrumental in transforming San Miguel into a diversified conglomerate, moving beyond its traditional food and beer business into non-allied industries such as power, tollroads, and oil refineries. The conglomerate posted a 13% increase in first-quarter sales and a 61% jump in net income before foreign exchange adjustments. With his net worth estimated at $3.3 billion, Ang’s strategic vision and leadership have been key to the company’s growth and success in various industries.
The younger Ang will have big shoes to fill as he takes on the role of president and COO, following in the footsteps of his father and the late Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Both men played pivotal roles in expanding San Miguel’s reach and diversifying its portfolio of businesses. With a long pipeline of projects already in progress, John Paul Ang will need to navigate complex infrastructure developments and joint ventures while maintaining the company’s growth trajectory and profitability.
Overall, the appointment of John Paul Ang as president and COO of San Miguel signals a new chapter in the conglomerate’s leadership, with a clear succession plan in place. As the company continues to pursue mega infrastructure projects and diversification into new industries, the Ang family’s strategic vision and business acumen will be key in driving San Miguel’s growth and success in the years to come.
