HONG KONG – In a business environment increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digital disruption, and geopolitical uncertainty, industry leaders are finding that competitive advantage is no longer determined solely by technology or scale, but by the ability to build strong partnerships and align across ecosystems. This was a central theme at ACC CXO Forum 2026, where PLDT Global convened global business and technology leaders to discuss the forces shaping the future of the digital economy.
The forum brought together executives from telecommunications, technology, infrastructure, investment, fintech, banking, hyperscalers, and enterprise organizations to exchange perspectives on growth opportunities, industry resilience, emerging technologies, and evolving customer expectations, while exploring how cross-sector collaboration can help address increasingly complex market challenges. By convening leaders across the global digital ecosystem, PLDT Global reinforced its role not only as a provider of connectivity solutions but also as a facilitator of industry dialogue and strategic partnerships that can help accelerate innovation and sustainable growth.
“We did not create this forum to predict the future. We created it to bring together the people who are shaping it,” said Albert V. Villa-Real, President and CEO of PLDT Global, during the forum's opening session.
More than 80 C-suite executives and industry leaders gathered to discuss the strategic priorities shaping the future digital economy, from AI and resilience to infrastructure investment, innovation, and sustainable growth.
The forum featured insight from global industry leaders including Dario Betti, CEO of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF); Ambe Tierro, Country Managing Director of Accenture Philippines; Andrew Kwok, CEO at HGC Global Communications; Will Haering, CEO at Meridian; Curtis Matlock, Founder at Proto; Robert Hah, Managing Director at Accenture Strategy; Ajinkya Mukhopadhyay, Managing Director, TMT Investment Banking at HSBC; and other executives. Together, they explored how businesses can navigate disruption, unlock new growth opportunities, and build more resilient and future-ready ecosystems.
Albert V. Villa-Real, President and CEO of PLDT Global
The discussions also featured contributions from leaders across telecommunications, technology, finance, and infrastructure, including executives from the broader PLDT Group. Among the speakers and panelists were Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC) EVP, Chief Finance Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla; PLDT Advisor Stanley Yang; PLDT Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Business Group Blums Pineda; PLDT Vice President for Network Design and Engineering Arvin Siena; PLDT OIC CFO Leo Posadas; PLDT Chief Procurement Officer Louella Calixtro; and PLDT Global Chief Operations Officer Edith Gomez-Cudiamat. Their participation brought perspectives on leadership, enterprise transformation, resilience, digital infrastructure, customer experience, and the evolving demands of the digital economy.
Complementing the forum's strategic discussions were curated experiences such as the Leadership Lego Collaboration Lab, Executive Coffee Masterclass, and Executive Whiskey Pairing & Conversations, which provided executives with unconventional settings to spark conversation, challenge assumptions, and strengthen professional networks.
According to Villa-Real, one of the key challenges facing organizations today is moving beyond access to information and toward meaningful alignment among stakeholders. “In an increasingly connected world, alignment has become one of the greatest competitive advantages any ecosystem can have.”
Discussions emphasized the importance of trust, shared purpose, and partnership in navigating rapid technological change and evolving market dynamics. Villa-Real also noted that diverse perspectives often lead to stronger outcomes and more sustainable innovation. “The future of our industry won't be shaped by any one company acting alone. It will be shaped by the partnerships we build, the decisions we make together, and the relationships we strengthen across our ecosystem.”
The highlight of the forum was the Chairman's dialogue with two of Philippines' most influential business leaders PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and San Miguel Corporation Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang. The session provided candid insights on leadership, decision-making under pressure, organizational resilience, long-term value creation, and the qualities needed to build enduring businesses amid uncertainty.
The discussions at ACC CXO Forum 2026 reinforced a shared belief among industry leaders: the future of the digital economy will be defined not by individual organizations, but by the ecosystems they build together. Through the forum, PLDT Global reaffirmed its commitment to convening the leaders, ideas, and partnerships that will help shape the next era of growth and innovation.
