PAL Holdings Inc., which operates flag carrier Philippine Airlines, has filled key executive positions in a move to build a structure that strengthens the airline’s leadership team.
The appointments come three months from when Lucio C. Tan III assumed the position as company president in May.
In a regulatory filing, PAL Holdings board approved the reinstatement of the position of chief commercial officer and confirmed the appointment of Eric David Anderson to the position with the rank of senior vice president.
As CCO, Anderson helps bring synergy and strategic focus to PAL’s commercial departments.
In the same meeting, the board likewise approved the reinstatement of the position of executive vice president who will report to the president and chief operating officer to ensure that PAL operations are carried out in accordance with the business plan of the company, it said without naming its EVP.
But Anderson previously served as PAL vice president for revenue management and strategy and brings years of leadership experience as director for revenue management and planning at Amerijet International Airlines in the U.S., finance manager for customer service operations at Amazon Japan and director for global cargo strategy, alliances and product for U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines.
In July, PAL appointed Anna Isabel Villanueva-Bengzon as chief finance officer. Before joining PAL, Bengzon was deputy CFO for Global Business Power Corp. at Meralco PowerGen until July 2023. She also worked as CFO at MediaQuest Holdings Inc., TV5 Network Inc. and Metropac Movers Inc., as well as vice president and head of investor relations at PLDT Inc.
Tan has also invested in a new fleet of long-haul aircraft to anchor PAL’s global network. The airline purchased nine Airbus A350-1000 new-generation aircraft last June.
The airline posted a net income of $97 million for 2022 and a record $250 million for the first six months of the year.
Tan earlier said PAL was beginning to realize the benefits of its sacrifices in the past few years.
“PAL is on a recovery track and is now in a position to carry out major product and digital transformation initiatives in order to grow amid a more competitive and challenging aviation industry,” Tan said.
