Tycoon Fernando Zobel de Ayala has returned to AC Healthcare as its chairman as he continues to increase his phased return to senior positions of governance in the Ayala Group after previously stepping back due to undisclosed health reasons.
In a statement, Ayala Corporation said Zobel was elected by the Board of Directors of its healthcare arm as Chairman on Monday, Sept. 25. He had served as AC Health chairman from November 2016 to September 2022, during which time he played a major role in setting the foundation of the company.

As chairman, Zobel supported AC Health's acquisition of Healthway Philippines and a majority stake into QualiMed Health Network, which are now integrated as one group under the Healthway Medical Network brand.
He also supported AC Health's partnership with Siemens, Varian, and CTSI for the construction and design of the country's first dedicated cancer specialty hospital, the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital in Arca South, Taguig City.
Moreover, Zobel pushed for the consolidation of the group's healthtech companies into the KonsultaMD super app as a joint venture with Globe's 917Ventures.
During his term, AC Health also invested in IE Medica and MedEthix, complementing the group's existing retail network of Generika Drugstores and strengthening the company's pharma supply chain, making quality medicines accessible to more Filipinos.
On Monday, Zobel visited the now nearly complete Healthway Cancer Care Hospital together with Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, AC Health President & CEO Paolo Borromeo, and other executives of the AC Health group. Zobel led the groundbreaking of the facility in 2021.
"I am very happy to see that the first dedicated cancer specialty hospital in the country is very near completion," Zobel said.
He added that, "we look forward to finally opening the facility so we can fulfill our promise of providing quality 'care beyond cure' to Filipino patients."
Last week, Zobel also rejoined the board of the Bank of the Philippine Islands as a director and a member of the Executive Committee and Personnel and Compensation Committee.