From tax reform to tech reform: Karl Chua's data-driven mission at Ayala

Previously dubbed as the "poster boy of tax reform" for spearheading the Philippines' most significant fiscal overhaul in decades, Karl Kendrick Chua is now championing another kind of transformation—this time at the intersection of data, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovation.

- BEN ARNOLD DE VERA

As a former Department of Finance (DOF) undersecretary—and later the country's chief economist as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary during one of its most trying moments, the Covid-19 pandemic—Chua earned national acclaim for architecting a series of tax reform measures and market liberalization reforms that continue to bolster the Philippines' fiscal and economic health today. Now, in his new role as managing director and group head for data science and AI at Ayala Corp., Chua is harnessing the power of data and technology to serve Filipino consumers more effectively through one of the country's most influential business groups.

From public service to private-sector impact

For his role in pushing for tax reforms that we enjoy to this day, Chua became synonymous with smart governance and data-driven policy. Today, his impact is channeled through a different arena—the digital corridors of Ayala, the Philippines' oldest and most diversified conglomerate, which spans banking (Bank of the Philippine Islands), telecommunications (Globe Telecom), fintech (GCash), real estate (Ayala Land), healthcare (AC Health), energy (ACEN), logistics (AC Logistics), transport (ACMobility), and more.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Chua explained his new mission succinctly: "Bong Consing, who hired me, wanted me to help the Ayala Group become a dataand AI-driven organization," referring to Ayala President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cezar Consing.