Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive of JG Summit Holdings, is this year’s recipient of the EY-Bank of Singapore Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence award.
The prestigious award acknowledges Gokongwei’s leadership and significant contributions to the Southeast Asian business landscape. He is set to receive the award on Nov. 18 in Singapore.
The EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence (AEE) award, established in 2015, is a celebration of business leaders who inspire excellence across industries.
It is presented by professional services organization EY, and Bank of Singapore is the presenting title sponsor. It recognizes successful Southeast Asian entrepreneurs who drive not only economic growth but also create positive societal change for the region.
Gokongwei’s leadership at JG Summit, one of the region’s most diversified and impactful conglomerates, exemplifies these values. His focus on innovation, inclusive growth, and sustainability has helped position the company as a key driver of economic progress across Southeast Asia.
Reflecting on his guiding principles, Gokongwei said, “I want to make a positive and lasting difference in everything I can do and pay it forward.”
This belief has been the cornerstone of his leadership, where profitability is balanced with a commitment to creating value for stakeholders, employees, and the communities his companies serve.
Through its subsidiaries, Universal Robina Corp. (URC) and Cebu Pacific (CEB), JG Summit has successfully broadened its presence throughout ASEAN.
URC has established operations in major markets including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, providing products that cater to the diverse needs of consumers across the region.
Cebu Pacific, one of the Philippines’ leading airlines, contributed to regional connectivity, with flights spanning Southeast Asia, driving tourism, trade, and mobility. At the heart of Gokongwei’s leadership is a commitment to innovation, as seen in his digital initiatives.
One example is GoTyme, a digital banking venture launched in collaboration with Singapore’s Tyme Group. GoTyme highlights Gokongwei’s vision of financial inclusion through digitalization, providing millions of Filipinos with seamless access to banking services that were previously unavailable to them.
His unrelenting pursuit of excellence drives continuous innovation, evidence to the entrepreneurial DNA that he embodies and the enduring spirit of his leadership.
Gokongwei’s recognition with the AEE award also features his vital role in advancing the goals of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which aims to integrate the economies of its 10 member states.
Under his leadership, JG Summit has produced economic growth, in alignment with the AEC’s vision of a more interconnected and competitive Southeast Asia.
As the region continues to experience rapid development, Gokongwei’s leadership shows a powerful example of how commercial success can go hand in hand with social responsibility. His enduring legacy of paying it forward ensures that his influence will resonate far beyond the boardroom, inspiring others to make a lasting impact on their own communities.
The award will shine a spotlight on Gokongwei’s remarkable achievements and the significant contributions he has made to the ASEAN business community, solidifying his place as one of the region’s most influential leaders.
