WHY do we transfer? What makes us leave an office that we’ve called second home for years and decide—suddenly at times—to move to another? When is the best time to switch jobs?
I ask these questions in the wake of the recent rash of manpower movements hitting the motoring industry.
From Toyota to Nissan
DAX Avenido is now with Nissan, leaving what many believe is an exceedingly secure executive position at Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP).
Despite being “chased,” doggedly I was told, by Michinobu “The Rocker” Sugata, the well-loved TMP president, and asked to reconsider, Dax did not accede. He now holds a position at Nissan much higher than what he held at TMP and, according to my legman, Valentin Dakuykoy, Dax now receives a salary “slightly” higher than his pay at Toyota.
Before Dax left, Missy and Tonyo, two of Toyota’s well-liked public-relations assistants, also resigned after their colleague April Francisco said goodbye and joined Manila Water Services. Tonyo is now with ABS-CBN and Missy 3D. There was also Toyota’s Ralph moving to Mazda and Paulyn D to Audi. Now, where is Michelle Bayani, the girl with a nightingale voice? “She was moved to Toyota purchasing,” said Jade B. Sison, the multitalented public-relations workforce aligned with Carlo Ablaza, Mikko Hernandez and neophyte Pau Infante.
Before these notable movements, Toyota’s most celebrated hopper was Ariel de Jesus, who left TMP for Subaru but whose whereabouts have now become unknown. But Ariel’s legacy at TMP is secure as he was one of the architects of the now super-successful annual Toyota Road Trek (going 11th in 2015) together with Elijah(won) Marcial, who is now back at TMP after a fruitful stint at Toyota Singapore.
And who could forget Yuji Goto, Sugata-san’s former deputy, who is now in Australia after a brief posting in Singapore. Yohei Murase replaced Goto even as Jose Ariel T. Arias, with his sterling stint as a Samsung executive, got aboard TMP after Sonny Guerrero was plucked out from his TMP senior vice president position to head Bicutan and Makati Toyota and hold a key job at the Toyota Technical School in Santa Rosa City in a concurrent capacity.
Danny “Sir John” Isla almost took a similar route; from Toyota SVP, Sir John was elevated to Lexus Manila president but has nonetheless remained a key cog at TMP. And still at Lexus, Carlo Chungunco, Sir John’s aide de camp, has resigned to take up law at Ateneo. “Carlo now reads law books six hours a day from a class lasting only three hours,” said Sir John.
From Isuzu to Volks
THE latest to switch jobs is Timmy Naval-de Leon, who left her media post at Isuzu Philippines Corp. on August 22 to join Arnel Doria at Volkswagen beginning August 26. “I will love Isuzu forever,” said Timmy, who lasted 13 years at Isuzu. “I just need to face another challenge because I am a person who loves challenges.”
Arnel was formerly holding a major post at Honda and, after heading the Honda Safety Driving School in Bicutan, he took a sabbatical before returning to action upon Volkswagen’s return to the country. I am sure Arnel misses Tintin Reyes, his chief media specialist in Honda halcyon days. Tintin is now trying to build a family in New Zealand with her tall hunk of a hubby, Alvin.
From Subaru to Tata
NOT long after Ariel de Jesus left Subaru, Nicky Mariano followed suit after his ward, Kristofferson Lagasca, moved to Peugeot upon the urgings of Dong Magsajo, who quit as Philippine Star’s motoring editor to join Felix Mabilog at the French auto company. Nicky is now with Tata, the intrepid Indian company trying to penetrate the middle-income sector. Nicky was also formerly with Toyota.
From Hyundai to BYD
AT the Mooncake Festival last week, I saw Popo Soriano. From Hyundai, Popo is now the general manager of BYD (Build Your Dreams), China’s No. 1 selling car whose valued investors include American billionaire Warrant Buffett. Popo confided that BYD is doing well, “considering we are a new player in the game.”
Mark Tieng, the youthful BYD managing director, speaks highly of Popo. “With his arrival at BYD, things are perking up. Popo is a big asset to us.”
BYD, famous for its electronically operated and keyless cars, is barely a year old in the country. But some of its models are bestsellers in China, where nearly three million vehicles are sold every year, led by Volks. A BYD SUV has been consistently voted best SUV in its segment in China.
Media movement, too
BRIAN Afuang, the art director and motoring editor of Manila Times, will soon call Business World home as the paper’s Visual & Motoring Editor. Brian’s new package at BW will also see him leave Top Gear, the country’s No. 1 motoring magazine.
Arnold Belleza has left Business World as executive editor and motoring chief and is being wooed to join Manila Times. Ardie Lopez, EIC of C! Magazine, is replacing James Deakin, who remains a Philippine Star motoring columnist and who now spends much of his time doing humanitarian work.
Pee stop For a down payment of P118,000, you can have the Ford 2.5L 4X2 Limited AT, and for P88,000 only, the Ford 2.5L 4X2 XLT MT. And is it true the Mazda 3 can be had at only P50,000 down payment? I need to ask Dave “Big Mac” Macasadia for confirmation…Many are asking: Will Mitsubishi extend its Montero Sport promo of from P15,000 to P95,000 savings through the All-In scheme? This, I will have to ask Mitsubishi point-man Froi Dytianquin…Kia Motors in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will have the moniker Kia Sorentos beginning October 19 when the PBA Philippine Cup unfolds at either Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, QC, or Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. And, yes, Nenuka Guba is now with Kia. Cheers!
