Grab Philippines on Monday announced a leadership transition with the appointment of Ronald Roda as the new country head, taking over from Grace Vera Cruz who was promoted to head of regional corporate strategy.
The planned succession is part of Grab’s commitment to nurturing talent and demonstrates the depth of Filipino leadership in the organization.
Roda was most recently chief operating officer of Grab Philippines and led the GrabCar business for over six years.
Under Roda’s leadership, Grab expanded its reach from eight cities to over 200 cities in the Philippines in 2018, making Grab’s services accessible to millions more Filipinos.
During the pandemic, when the GrabCar business was temporarily shut down, Roda adapted swiftly to sustain business operations and transformed it into a more reliable and affordable service post-pandemic.
Roda played a crucial role to create over 72,000 livelihood opportunities in the first half of 2024, bringing the total to over 270,000 since 2023. This is in line with the company’s commitment to the Philippine government of creating 500,000 livelihood opportunities over the next five years.
“I am honored to take on the role of Country Head for Grab Philippines, and I am committed to continuing the great work and building on the strong relationships established under Grace’s leadership,” Roda said.
“My goal is to continue making Grab a true partner for growth, providing innovative solutions that benefit Filipinos across the nation. Together, we will further enhance the quality of life for our consumers and driver-partners, and strengthen the pathways for success for our MSMEs and corporate partners, ensuring that Grab remains a vital contributor to the Philippines’ socio-economic development,” he said.
Vera Cruz will continue to be based in the Philippines in her regional capacity, to ensure a smooth transition and operational continuity. Her ongoing presence signifies her continued commitment to supporting the Philippine market and strengthening Grab’s long-standing partnerships.
“I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support, collaboration, trust, and openness from all our partners and stakeholders who have believed in Grab’s success during my tenure,” Vera Cruz.
“Reflecting on the commitment I made when I joined Grab, I am proud of the strides we have made together to drive innovation, enhance services, and uplift the lives of Filipinos. As I transition to my new regional role, I am filled with confidence, optimism and excitement for Grab Philippines and our new country head,” she said.
Vera Cruz said Roda’ dedication and deep understanding of the industry make him the perfect leader for this next chapter.
“I encourage everyone to extend to him the same level of support and trust that you have generously given me as we continue our journey to drive growth and success for Grab and the Filipino community,” she said.
