Jaime Zobel de Ayala

For the chairman and chief executive officer of Ayala Corporation, see Jaime Augusto Zobel.

Jaime Zóbel de Ayala
Chairman Emeritus Ayala Corporation
Incumbent
Assumed office 2006
Personal details
Born	residence 1934 (age 89–90) Manila, Philippines
Died	residence
Resting place	residence
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse	Beatriz Miranda Barcon
Children	Jaime Augusto Zóbel de Ayala II Fernando Zóbel de Ayala
Parent	residence
Alma mater	Harvard University Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration
Profession	Businessman Philanthropist

Jaime Zóbel de Ayala y Pfitz, PLH (born 1934), also known as Jaime Zóbel, is a prominent Filipino businessman, philanthropist and art photographer. He is the chairman emeritus of Ayala Corporation. He has received numerous awards for business leadership, philanthropy and photography.

Early life and family

Zóbel de Ayala was born in 1934 to Alfonso Zobel de Ayala (1903-1967) and Carmen Pfitz y Herrero (1909-1999). He has two other siblings - Maria Victoria ("Vicky") and Alfonso Jr. ("Alfonsito"). He is the grandson of Enrique Zóbel de Ayala and Consuelo de Ayala.

He is married to Beatriz Miranda Barcon in 1958. Together they have two sons (Jaime Augusto and Fernando) and five daughters (Beatriz Susana ("Bea Jr."), Patrisha, Cristina, Monica and Sofia.

Education

After early education in the Philippines, Zóbel de Ayala attended Harvard University, where he graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in architectural sciences. He attended the Advanced Management Program in the Far East, conducted by the Faculty from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in Baguio, Philippines in 1963.

Business career

Zóbel de Ayala joined Ayala y Compañía in 1955 and became its last managing partner in 1967, when the company changed from a partnership to a corporation (Ayala Corporation). He succeeded his cousin, Enrique J. Zóbel, as chairman and president of Ayala Corporation in 1984.

He stepped down as president of Ayala in 1994 and was succeeded by his son, Jaime Augusto. He continued as chairman until his retirement in 2006. He is the chairman emertus of Ayala since 2006.

Photography

Zóbel de Ayala is the first Filipino amateur photographer to be confirmed “Licentiate” by the Royal Photographic Society and has received similar commendations from the French and Spanish governments for his contributions to art and culture. He exhibits regularly in the Philippines and abroad and has produced several critically acclaimed books. He continues to break new ground in art photography with explorations in various art media.

Diplomat

Zóbel de Ayala was appointed Philippine ambassador to the Court of St. James's in London and the Scandinavian countries (1970-1974).

Legacy and honors

• 1968, Comendador al Mérito Civil, Spain;
• 1980, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France;
• 1985, Doctor of Business Management (honoris causa) De La Salle University, Manila
• 1986, Senator Award, highest honor bestowed by the Jaycees
• 1987, “Management Man of the Year”, Management Association of the Philippines;
• 1991, Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), University of the Philippines;
• 2004, FIRST Responsible Capitalism Award Winner;
• 2008, Hero of Philanthropy, Forbes magazine, special issue Asia magazine initiated this recognition, including four Filipinos: Jaime Zobel de Ayala, John Gokongwei, Ramon del Rosario Jr., and Oscar Lopez. The list recognizes four philanthropists from each of 13 selected countries and territories in Asia;
• 2009, Philippine Legion of Honor, Rank of Grand Commander, Armed Forces of the Philippines

Notability

• 2007, Jaime Zobel de Ayala was ranked as tied with Henry Sy as the richest person in the Philippines, with a net worth of $2.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
• 2008, Zobel de Ayala and family were ranked 3rd in Forbes magazine's 2008 list of 40 wealthiest Filipinos, due to a 46% drop in their conglomerate Ayala Corp. shares, which were worth $800 million.

See also

• Zobel de Ayala family

External links

• Jaime Zobel's photography
• Ayala Corporation
• Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family, The World's Richest People, Forbes.com
• Ayala at 175 Magazine
• Ayala 2009 Annual Report