Aboitiz Land, Inc., the real estate division of the Aboitiz Group, recently announced the appointment of Rafael Fernandez de Mesa as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective January 1, 2025.
Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, the new Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz Group
The leadership transition comes as current president and CEO David Rafael steps down after five years at the helm. Under his tenure, the company had made significant strides in real estate development but the company now looks to Rafael Fernandez de Mesa to usher in a new era of technological integration and innovation.
A fifth-generation member of the Aboitiz family, Fernandez de Mesa’s leadership promises to be instrumental in aligning the company’s real estate endeavors with the group’s tech initiatives.
The transition is significant not only for the company but also for the broader group as it continues its mission to integrate technology and become the Philippines’ first “techglomerate” — a startup tech company that has grown into a conglomerate or a legacy conglomerate that has used technology and startup culture to radically transform the way it behaves and operates.
The company’s infrastructure arm, Aboitiz InfraCapital, has been integrating emerging technologies like AI since its launch in 2015. Amidst this evolution, Aboitiz remains committed to its core mission of “driving change for a better world by advancing businesses and communities.”
Real estate meets fintech: A vision for the future
The fintech landscape in the Philippines is rapidly evolving, driven by the increasing demand for seamless digital transactions, online financial services, and smart urban infrastructures.
Aboitiz Group is at the forefront of this transformation, as evidenced by its strategic partnership with UNO Digital Bank in June 2023. This collaboration aims to make credit more accessible to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide through UBX’s SeekCap platform while expanding UNO Digital Bank’s reach to a broader customer base.
Today, under the leadership of Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, Aboitiz Land is uniquely positioned to further integrate fintech into its real estate developments by expanding tech-enabled smart communities.
Fernandez de Mesa’s extensive experience, including 10 years in leadership roles within the Aboitiz Group, is instrumental in aligning the company’s real estate ventures with technological innovations. As First Vice President of Operations from 2016 to 2020, he oversaw key areas such as Project Management, Construction, and Property Management, gaining expertise that will be vital to the group’s mission of merging real estate with technology.
Aboitiz Land’s Economic Estates, located in Batangas, Cebu, and Tarlac, also serve as prime examples of where the company’s real estate projects intersect with fintech. These thriving economic hubs, hosting over 250 global industry leaders and employing more than 100,000 Filipinos, are positioned to become smart, tech-enabled ecosystems. With over ₱155 billion in investments, these estates will serve as pilots for initiatives such as digital banking, online payment systems, and blockchain applications, enabling financial technology to flourish within these dynamic communities.
Aboitiz Land’s Economic Estates offer solutions that leverage the country’s human and natural resources
Aboitiz InfraCapital and its tech potential
In addition to leading Aboitiz Land, Fernandez de Mesa will continue his current role as the Head of Economic Estates at Aboitiz InfraCapital.
His dual leadership positions further emphasize the company’s vision of transforming real estate developments into future-ready smart cities.
Aboitiz InfraCapital has long been a frontrunner in advancing infrastructure that supports digital ecosystems. By combining real estate with state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, the techglomerate is set to drive tech adoption in areas such as mobile payments, cashless transactions, and digital banking solutions.
As fintech becomes a vital part of the country’s financial services sector, Aboitiz Land’s real estate projects can serve as testing grounds for tech innovations, which can include initiatives like smart homes with integrated payment solutions, cashless transactions within community developments, and tech-friendly retail spaces.
Through these developments, the company hopes to bridge the gap between physical spaces and digital financial services, thus offering an innovative platform for fintech growth.
Improving financial inclusion and access to technology
Aboitiz’s efforts align with the country’s broader goals to improve financial inclusion and access to technology. As fintech continues to gain traction, especially with the government’s initiatives to promote digital banking and cashless transactions, real estate projects like those developed by the company can serve as crucial enablers.
By creating smart communities that embrace digital financial services, the company helps pave the way for more widespread fintech adoption in everyday life.
Fernandez de Mesa’s background in both management and real estate positions him well to lead this transformation. Prior to his appointment at Aboitiz, he worked as a Credit Analyst at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and Banco Santander in Miami, giving him valuable insights into the financial services industry. His experience in banking, combined with his extensive real estate expertise, enables him to spearhead initiatives that bring together real estate development and financial technology.
The appointment of Rafael Fernandez de Mesa as CEO of Aboitiz Land also marks a new chapter in the company’s history and underscores the Aboitiz Group’s commitment to integrating technology into its business model. With fintech becoming increasingly important in the Philippines, Aboitiz Land’s real estate projects can play a critical role in fostering digital transformation.
As the company continues its journey to becoming the country’s first “techglomerate,” its real estate arm is set to lead the charge, blending traditional land development with cutting-edge financial technology. This strategic integration will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of the fintech industry in the Philippines, supporting the country’s digital economy and enhancing the way Filipinos live and transact.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, the company introduced exciting projects, global engagements and CSR initiatives. For more information about Aboitiz Land and its dedication to enhancing value for its stakeholders, please visit www.aboitizland.com.