Aboitiz Land, Inc., the real estate division of the Aboitiz Group, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Rafael Fernandez de Mesa as its new chief executive effective Jan. 1, 2025. He will succeed David Rafael who is retiring after five years of leadership.
Fernandez de Mesa’s appointment signifies the return of Aboitiz family leadership. As a fifth-generation family member, he will oversee the land and residential business unit, while continuing his role as head of economic estates at Aboitiz InfraCapital, bringing extensive industry experience.
He has been instrumental in the success of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s award-winning Economic Estates, which cover nearly 2,000 hectares across Batangas, Cebu and Tarlac, host over 250 global companies and have attracted over P155 billion in investments, creating more than 100,000 jobs.
With 10 of his 15 years at Aboitiz Group spent at Aboitiz Land, Fernandez de Mesa held several leadership roles, including first vice president of operations. Before joining Aboitiz, he worked in banking at BBVA and Banco Santander in the US.
He holds multiple directorships within the Aboitiz Group, including Aboitiz Land, Aboitiz InfraCapital and Aboitiz Construction, reflecting his extensive expertise.
Under Fernandez de Mesa’s leadership, Aboitiz Land said it would be well-positioned to advance its growth as a key player in the Aboitiz Group’s vision of becoming the Philippines’ first techglomerate.
Aboitiz Land’s recent projects include residential developments like “Ajoya” in various locations, commercial spaces such as “Pampanga Gateway” and mixed-use projects like “The Villages at Lipa.”
The company is focused on sustainability and smart community design across these ventures.
