BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ramon C. Garcia, Jr., 54, Executive Chairman

As President from 1999 – 2001, Mr. Garcia has led a series of funding rounds culminating in its initial public offering (IPO), the first I.T. company to be listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange.
As President and CEO of iWave, Inc., he improved strategic alliances resulting in the development of various fintech platforms servicing key industries such as the Cagayan Special Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) using iWave’s fintech audit platform. Recently, he created GlobalTradeX (GTX), a sophisticated trading platform licensed to operate within the Freeport Area of Bataan to service clients worldwide.

Mr. Garcia was also the youngest Board of Governor member elected in the history of the Exchange at the age of 27 from 1996 to 1998 and 2000–2001. As a member of the Listing Committee, he was instrumental in the formulation of the Exchange’s Listing Rules and consulted with Philippine lawmakers in the creation of the Securities Regulation Code in his role as a member of the Legislative Committee. He is a consistent representative of the Philippine’s business delegation to a number of Presidential State Visits of President’s Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria M. Arroyo, Benigno C. Aquino, Jr. and Rodrigo R. Duterte to promote the capital markets, Philippine defense IT and business process outsourcing.

He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of PGI Systems, Inc., a company based in Singapore. Locally, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of Inter-Active Entertainment Systems, Inc., South Forbes City College, MAA Philippines, Asia Defense and Armaments Corp., HatchAsia, Inc., Cuyapo Rural Bank, RG Holdings, Philippine Minerals and Alloys, Inc., President and Nominee of Diversified Securities, Inc. and founder-member of the Board of Trustees of the Financial and Capital Market Training Foundation.

Mr. Garcia completed his grade school and high school education in 1981 at the St. Ignatius Loyola and in 1985 at the La Salle Military Academy in the USA. In 1991, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering minor in Mechanical Engineering from the De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines and completed the Executive Program for Growing Companies at Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2022.

Ricardo F. Banaag, President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Banaag has over 30 years of experience in the technology industry. He previously served as the country manager of Intel Philippines for over 16 years. Before joining Intel, he also served as country manager for IBM’s Global Network and was responsible for setting up one of the first ISP’s in the Philippines.

Calvin Lim, 42, Director 

Mr. Lim holds an Executive MBA from the National University of Singapore with a diploma in Computing and Information Technology from the Asia Pacific University(formally known as APIIT) in Malaysia. Mr. Lim has over twenty years of experience overseeing operations in the software development and gaming industry. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Lim was the co-founder and served as the Chief Operating Officer of Nogle Limited, a venture studio for early- stage technology start-ups headquartered in Hong Kong. He is also currently on the board of several other listed and non-listed companies around the world.

Jean Henri D. Lhuillier, 53, Director

Mr. Jean Henri Lhuillier is the man behind the expansion of Cebuana Lhuillier since he took the reins from his father, Philippe Jones Lhuillier, following his appointment to the diplomatic corps.
He currently serves as president and CEO of PJ Lhuillier, Inc. (PJLI), the parent company of Cebuana Lhuillier, the Philippines’ largest and leading microfinancial services provider with more than 3,000 branches nationwide. As president & CEO, Jean Henri is instrumental in pushing towards continuous innovation, through the introduction of products and services that best adheres to its mission of bringing financial inclusion to every Filipino.

Mr. Lhuillier also takes on various leadership roles in different organizations. Currently, he is the president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Cebuana Lhuillier Services Corporation, Cebuana Lhuillier Financial Corporation, Just Jewels Diamonds Boutique Corporation, Le Soleil de Boracay Resort, Networld Capital Ventures, Inc., Pawncare Services, Corp., P & EL Realty Corp., P.J. Lhuillier, Development Corp., PJL Corporate Centre, Inc., PJL Leisure, Inc., PJL Ventures, Inc., Riche Gould Real Estate, Inc., Verité Pawn Corp., Araw Properties, Findere, and Einhorn Resources Inc, Director and Board Chairman of Global Restaurant Concepts, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of San Marino to the Philippines, and the President of the Chamber of Pawnbrokers of the Philippines, Inc. He also serves as the Vice Chairman for Cebuana Lhuillier Bank, the country’s fastest growing rural bank.
Through his huge contributions and impact on the pawning industry and his excellent leadership, he received prestigious local and international awards such as Stevie Awards, Golden Bridge Awards, Asia’s CEO Awards, World’s CEO Awards, Anvil Awards, and Philippine Quill awards. In 2022, he was named as a “Master Innovator” by the Mansmith Innovation Awards, in recognition for his foresight in making PJLI and Cebuana Lhuillier a future-ready company through its transition as a fintech company.
Aside from his professional affiliations, Mr. Lhuillier is also a sports patron, especially in softball and tennis. He is the current President of Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP) and the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL).

Mr. Lhuillier graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California, USA. He obtained his doctorate degree in Humanities from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He completed the Management Program from the Harvard Business School. He is also an alumnus of the Gemological Institute of America.

Marco Antonio R. Urera, 55, Independent Director

Mr. Urera is currently a Board Member and Executive Director of iWave, Inc. and Board Member and President of iWave Advance Research Group, Inc. (IWAR), a subsidiary of iWave, Inc., is engaged in business process outsourcing, field technical support, and cash management services.

Mr. Marco Urera has served as the CEO/President for Vision Technical & Management Services, Inc. (“VTMSI”) since 1987 and Vision A&E, Inc. (“VAE”) since 2007; Founder and Director of Home Alert, Inc. (“HAI”) since 2002 and President of JW Tea Products, Inc. (Natural Health Products) since 1987. VTMSI is an operating and holding company. While VAE, a subsidiary of VTMSI, is a business process outsourcing company engaged in Architecture and Engineering Design using Property Technology (PropTech) such as BIM, Analytics & CAD Production services. It has recently established a branch office in Vancouver, Canada, VAE. Another subsidiary of VTMSI is HAI, a company that imports and distributes fire safety and security products and involved in facilities management services in the Philippines. Mr. Urera is also the Founder (since 1991) and formerly Managing Director (from 1991 to 2013) of Fax n Parcel, Inc. (FNP), a one-stop telecommunications, business center and printing company. He was also the former CEO of EDSAMAIL and Evoserve, an Internet Service Provider and Software Development Services company.

Mr. Urera graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from De La Salle University.

Independent Director since August 2020

Mr. Beltran currently serves as the Chairman of the Malaysia Russia Business Council. He is a founding member of the governance and licensing body for Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) of the Financial Planners Association of Malaysia and holds directorships in Agrostan Farms of Kazakhstan, United Helicopters SEA of Hong Kong, and The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club of Malaysia. He has extensive experience in working with commercial and government entities of the Russian Federation across multiple industries and in managing micro and macro aspects of international multi-subsidiary entities.

Previously, Mr. Beltran was involved in several organizations in various capacities. A Board and Global Advisory Board Member of Arshiya International, an Indian-listed integrated logistics company; Country Head of MAA General Insurance Philippines and Advisor of the Malaysian Reserve.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of West London and completed his Certificate of Legal Practice from the University of Malaya. Mr. Beltran has a decade-long experience practicing law in London and Kuala Lumpur.

Director since May 2002; Treasurer since June 2010

Mr. Villanueva is currently the President of ABV Inc., Chairman of VFL Advisors Inc. and President of CIBI Foundation Inc. He is also an Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the CTBC Bank Philippines. He is the Treasurer of DFNN Inc. and Adviser to CDC Holdings Inc. and PhilRatings Inc. He currently holds directorships in the Makati Supermart Group, Microventures Finance Co., Fuji Haya Electric Co. and Testech Inc.

In 1998, Mr Villanueva was the President of Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), an industry association of finance professionals. Currently, he serves as a Trustee of the FINEX Foundation. From 1998 to 2001, he served as the Chairman of the Capital Markets Development Council.

Mr. Villanueva served as President of Vickers Ballas Securities Philippines Inc., a member of the Philippine Stock Exchange, from 1997 to 2001 and Sun Hung Kai Securities Philippines from 1990 to 1997. He was with SGV & Co from 1976 to 1990, where he served as Principal In Charge of the Project Development Services Division and Managing Director of the Hong Kong member firm.

Mr. Villanueva received his Bachelor of Science degree in Management Engineering (cum laude) from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1972. He received his Master of Business Administration from Wharton Graduate School, University of Pennsylvania in 1974. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors after having completed the Directors Training Course of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2002.

Director since August 2003

Mr. Ongkauko is currently the President of the OCU Group (since 2003) and OC Ventures Corp. Inc. (since 1995). He is also a Director of Centaur International Pty Ltd. (since 2002), Centaur Exim Pte Ltd. (since 2004), Assie Asia Pty. Ltd. (since 1986), San Antonio Marketing Inc, (since 1997) and Technofoods Inc. (since 1993).

Director since July 2014

Mr. Chan is currently involved in the following corporations:

1. AB Gaming & Leisure Specialist lnc. – President;

2. Arwen Gaming Consultancy, Inc – Director;

3. Grandshares, Inc. – Director;

4. Caliraya Lakeview Resort & Management Corp. –Director;

5. Blackberry Gaming & Leisure Corp. – Director;

6. Global 8 Fortune Holdings, lnc. – Director

Steve Tsao, 48, Independent Director

Mr. Tsao began his career with the Fortune 50 firms. Most recently he is involved with initial public offerings, M&A’s as well as growth firms in online gaming, media, investments, venture capital, fintech and online payment gateways. He has vast management experience mostly from the technology and online gaming industry through various process management roles in Corning and Dupont; President and COO of IP Ventures Group and IP E-Games and Gigamedia (Nasdaq:GIGM); CEO of Tahadi Games Media; and most recently Group CEO of Mayfair International Technology. He is also the Founder and Managing Director of LeadHope Digital, an online gaming publishing company focusing on the South East Asia markets.

Mr. Tsao received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering (with honors) from the University of New Hampshire in 1997 and his Master of Business Administration (with honors) from Babson College in 2003.

Director since July 2017

Atty. Acosta is a lawyer and Senior Partner at Villaraza & Angangco Law Firm. She has acted as corporate counsel for various private and public companies including companies engaged in property development, telecommunications, information technology, banks, investment companies and other financial intermediaries, power and mining. In such capacity Ms. Acosta regularly renders legal advice on regulatory compliance of corporations. Ms. Acosta has extensive practice in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, structuring of foreign investments, government infrastructure and information technology systems, procurement of goods and services, capital markets, securities and regulation, finance, corporate reorganization and corporate rehabilitation. Ms. Acosta acts director and Corporate Secretary of various corporations.

Atty. Acosta graduated from New York University with a Master of Laws. She ranked 3 rd in the Philippine Bar Examination and earned her Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines College of Law where she graduated Class Valedictorian and Cum Laude. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines School of Economics where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Nicholas Te

Nicholas Te is a highly skilled Materials Science and Engineering graduate from UC Berkeley, California with a degree earned in May 2020. His professional journey is marked by a strong focus on research and development, as well as pilot-scale production, of novel cathode materials for EVs. Through optimized design of experiments, he paved the way for exponential increases in data throughput and production standard operations. With expertise in cutting-edge analytical techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to properly assess material properties and quality, Mr. Te has assisted in the development of multiple scalable cathode recipes. Peripherally, he has used his proficiency in several coding languages to aid in creating internal systems (primarily for databasing and data processing) to expedite the work of other engineers.

During his undergraduate period, Mr. Te worked for the NASA-funded Combustion Fire Process Laboratory, aiding in the creation of modular testing systems for materials compatibility research in spacecraft/microgravity conditions. His internships brought him to understand the business and operations of mining in the Philippines with Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation as well as the downstream pyrometallurgical processes of Nickel and Iron at Lianyungang Huale Alloy Co., Ltd.

He is currently serving as a director on Asian Appraisal Company Inc.