THE CFO AS COMPASS:

Ayala's Alberto de Larrazabal and the leadership behind a transforming conglomerate

- By KATHERINE L. MAGSANOC

De Larrazabal led Ayala in executing landmark financing deals that combined competitive cost with positive impact.

Ayala Corporation Chief Financial Officer Alberto de Larrazabal brings together technical mastery, values-driven leadership, and a collaborative spirit that is helping steer Ayala through one of its most pivotal moments.

This is why he is the ING-FINEX CFO of the Year.

On November 19, 2025, leaders from across the financial community gathered at Fairmont Makati for an annual tradition: recognizing the ING-FINE

X CFO of the Year, the Philippines' most prestigious honor for chief financial officers. This year, the spotlight fell on Alberto de Larrazabal, Ayala Corporation's Chief Financial Officer.

For many who know him, the recognition felt inevitable.

But de Larrazabal speaks of the award with characteristic humility. "The role of the CFO comes with a lot of trust placed on you. It is heartwarming to feel that I have been deserving of that trust," he said during the ceremony.

For someone who now joins a roster of industry trailblazers including Corazon Dizon, Richard Shin, and Grant Cheng, his story is not just about financial stewardship.

It is about the kind of leadership that shapes organizations from the inside out.

The award recognizes de Larrazabal's pivotal role in guiding Ayala through major transitions — portfolio shifts, new initiatives, and intensified focus on sustainability — while maintaining the group's operational and governance excellence. The year 2024 marked a record performance for Ayala Corporation, making his leadership even more pronounced.

Ayala President and CEO Cezar Consing outlines de Larrazabal's influence across three dimensions: process, transaction-level oversight, and corporate strategy.