About AmCham Philippines

History

Incorporated in 1920, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) has been striving to contribute to the Philippine economic growth for the socioeconomic development of the Filipinos.

Its service has long started as the Manila Coffee Round Table (1902) and later as the Manila Merchants Association. Although with different names, the Chamber’s commitment did not waver through time. It has been true to its commitment of developing and looking after the welfare of American businesses in the Philippines.

What we do

“The Chamber exists to serve the interests of Philippine and American businesses through the participation of members in promoting their long-term objectives, while contributing to the civic and economic development of the Philippines.”

A message from AmCham Philippines’ Executive Director

Like all great organizations, AmCham is consistently looking for improvements. Therefore I am especially elated to have our new and improved website. I had a long list for items I wanted our members to be able to get from our website and most if not all have been incorporated into our new website.

First and foremost, it must be user friendly to computers as well as mobile devices. Secondly, it must allow members and guest to register for meetings and be able to pay online. Finally, it should have relevant content of events, news, and other relevant updates. 

This new website is worlds ahead of our previous website but like the first paragraph mentions, we will not stop looking for improvements and ways to better provide the best to our membership.

We are open for your comments and suggestions. I hope you enjoy the new look and thanks for your support.

Ebb Hinchliffe

AmCham Philippines’ Board of Directors

Peter Hayden
President, AmCham Philippines
General Manager and Country Head, Capital One Philippines

Peter “Pete” W. Hayden is the General Manager & Country Head for Capital One Philippines. Capital One Philippines provides 24/7 full customer lifecycle support to Capital One; a leading Fortune 500 financial services and technology company. An experienced and passionate leader, Pete joined the Philippine team in 2016 and has worked to build a strong and diverse team in Capital One Philippines that has created a best in class performance, experience, and career for thousands of Filipinos. Under his leadership, the company was able to double the scale of its operations within 2 years (now at over 4,000 FTE strong) and it now has 2 sites located in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. (read more)

Bruce Winton
1st Vice President, AmCham Philippines
Cluster General Manager, Marriott Hotel

Bruce Winton, Cluster General Manager for Marriott International hotels located in Manila and Iloilo, began his term as President of AMCHAM in January 2017. A 27-year veteran of Marriott, Bruce has worked in Europe, the USA and Asia and was named General Manager of the Year for Asia-Pacific in 2013. Marriott is currently expanding their portfolio to 8 hotels in the Philippines in the next 3 years. A graduate of New Hampshire College in Manchester NH, Bruce is currently completing an Executive Leadership Certificate at Cornell University. He is married to Christina and has 2 teenage children Alex and Colin. Bruce is passionate about providing growing opportunities for the talented workforce of the Philippines and advocates actively for legislation that enables job creation.

Roberto Batungbacal
2nd Vice President, AmCham Philippines
Country Manager, Dow Chemicals Philippines, Inc.

Philip Soliven
Treasurer, AmCham Philippines
President, Cargill Philippines

Philip Soliven is the President and Country Representative of Cargill Philippines, Inc., the main operating company and the parent company of Cargill’s various businesses in the Philippines. He is also the Commercial Director for various Food Ingredients and Bio-Industrial (FIBI) businesses and the President of Philippine Bio-Industries, Inc., a Cargill joint venture.

Philip joined Cargill in 1995 as a Singapore-based manager in the Financial Markets Trading Group, then Cargill’s proprietary financial trading business. He managed the group’s investment portfolio for the Philippines and subsequently moved to the Philippines later that year to assume an additional role as country treasurer. (read more)

Atty. Aileen Tolosa-Lerma
Corporate Secretary, AmCham Philippines
Partner, Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc De Los Angeles Law Office

Aileen Sarah T. Lerma, a partner, is working with the Securities department. Her practice focuses on securities and corporate law (including mergers and acquisitions, and data privacy matters).

Aileen has extensive experience in handling various capital market transactions, among which are local and international offerings of debt and equity securities, asset-based securities, certificates of deposit, securitizations, and initial and follow-on public offerings. She represents both domestic and foreign clients regarding transactions, regulations, and investments before various government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Finance, Board of Investments, and Philippine Economic Zone Authority. (read more)

Andreas Riedel
Director, AmCham Philippines
Country Manager, Pfizer Philippines

Frank Thiel
Director, AmCham Philippines
Managing Director, Quezon Power

Frank Thiel currently serves as Managing Director of Quezon Power (Philippines), Limited Co. (QPL) with the primary responsibility of maintaining the profitability of the company’s 460MW coal-fired power project in Mauban, Quezon.

Thiel is also the General Manager for the San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. (SBPL), a new 500MW supercritical coal-fired plant located also in Mauban, Quezon. He also manages contracts, financial, commercial, and regulatory activities related to the power project.

Prior to his appointment as Managing Director for QPL in 2012, Thiel served as Vice President and Regional General Manager for InterGen Services Inc.’s Mexico unit where he was responsible for the day-to-day management of the 1,100MW La Rosita Power Project, 271MW Chihuahua Power Project, 252MW Campeche Power Project, and 51% of the 600MW Bajio Power Project.

Aileen Judan-Jiao
Director, AmCham Philippines
Country Managing Director, IBM Philippines

Aileen Judan-Jiao was named President and Country General Manager of IBM Philippines in July 2018.

She is responsible for the growth and leadership of IBM Philippines’ operations, which includes sales, distribution, and global delivery services. Aileen will build on the strong collaboration with clients, partners, government, and communities to advance digital transformation and inclusive progress using AI, Cloud, industry capabilities, and other emerging technologies.

Aileen is the first homegrown Filipina leader of IBM Philippines with a remarkable 26-year track record of pioneering innovations and driving business results in IBM. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Carlos Ma. G. Mendoza
Director, AmCham Philippines
Senior Country Officer and Head of Banking, Philippines, JPMorgan Chase and Co.

Mendoza has been with JP Morgan for 12 years. He has been former Country Chief Roberto “Bobbit” Panilio’s deputy since February 2018 as part of the bank’s succession planning.

As deputy SCO, he oversees management of the bank’s overall franchise in the country across all lines of business.

Before joining JP Morgan, Mendoza had worked at GE Capital for eight years with the rank of vice president. He was a senior associate at PCI Capital.

Mendoza graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1991 with a degree in management engineering and obtained his MBA (finance and international business) from NYU Stern School of Business in 2000.

George M. Drysdale
Director, Ex-Officio
Chairman and CEO, Marsman Drysdale Group

George Marsman Drysdale is Chairman and CEO of the Marsman Drysdale Group, a diversified Philippine-based holding and management company with interests in the agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, communications, and investment management industries.

Mr. Drysdale also makes direct private equity investments in high growth communications, media and consumer beverage companies. Since 1994, Mr. Drysdale has been an investor in the San Francisco Giants baseball team.

Prior to joining the Marsman Drysdale Group in 1991, Mr. Drysdale was a venture capitalist, first as General Partner of Hambrecht & Quist Venture Partners of San Francisco (1983-1987), and then as a managing General Partner of Westar Capital, a management buyout firm. From 1981 to 1983, Mr. Drysdale practiced corporate, securities, and tax law for Davis, Polk & Wardwell, a Wall Street law firm.

Mr. Drysdale served three terms as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and four terms as the Chairman of the twenty-nine member chambers of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC).

Donald R. Felbaum
Director, Ex-Officio
Managing Director, Optel

Don Felbaum’s professional career spans more than twenty (20) years of involvement in Technology Sectors including Telecoms, IT-Enabled Services, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), among others. His business experience covers more than twenty-five (25) countries worldwide.

Don also has broad general management experience, a team leadership style, with entrepreneurial vision. His excellent interpersonal and communication skills and hands-on management style have helped his clients over the years.

Further, Don has significant experience in business development including start-ups, mergers and acquisitions and project funding. He is active in various Directorships and Advisory Boards with a number of both local and foreign companies.

Robert M. Sears (†)
Director, Ex-Officio
Independent

Mr. Robert M. Sears is a past President of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc., and he also served as its Executive Director for 22 years. Prior to Amcham, Rob spent a distinguished 20 years with Merrill Lynch International, of which during his last 9 years he was President of Merrill Lynch Philippines, Inc. He graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine in 1966. Immediately after graduation he joined the United States Air Force reaching the rank of Captain. For service in Vietnam he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Luis Bonguyan
President, AmCham Mindanao

Board Member, Development Bank of the Philippines

AmCham Philippines Staff Members

Rachel De Guzman
Human Relations Head and Office Manager
TEL.: 8818-7911 LOC. 206
rachel@amchamphilippines.com

Kieroville Rojas
Program Manager, Committees & Industry Relations
TEL.: 8818-7911 LOC. 226
kv@amchamphilippines.com

Leslie Ann Murray
Publications Consultant/Editor
leslie@amchamphilippines.com

Elmer Yanuaria
Accounting Head
TEL.: 8818-7911 LOC. 215
elmer@amchamphilippines.com

Jeanne Angela Moreno
Industry Development Specialist
TEL.: 8818-7911 LOC. 213
jeanne@amchamphilippines.com

Eya Martinez
Layout and Graphics Editor
TEL.: 8818-7911 LOC. 211
eya@amchamphilippines.com

Rick Peji
Admin Services/Driver
TEL.: 8818-7911 LOC. 212
rick@amchamphilippines.com

Celine Laurel
Admin Clerk/Receptionist
TEL.: 8818-7911 LOC. 200
celine@amchamphilippines.com

Annie Quitay
Chapter Office Manager, Mindanao
TEL.: +639168767729
annie@amchamphilippines.com