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Smart COO Anastacio Martirez steps down—report

Business | The Stock Market

Smart COO Anastacio Martirez steps down—report

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Anastacio R. Martirez

Anastacio R. Martirez

Anastacio R. Martirez has resigned as Chief Operating Officer of Smart Communications Inc., effective Oct. 21, following an internal investigation into employee complaints regarding workplace culture, according to a report by news website InsiderPH, citing an internal memo from PLDT Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Martirez stepped down after going on leave on Sept. 8, when internal and online complaints about a “hostile work environment” at the telecommunications giant surfaced, including a popular Reddit thread titled “Toxic Smart?,” according to InsiderPH.

Smart issued a statement late Wednesday, Oct. 22, confirming the departure of Martinez.

According to the company, Mr. Martinez “has today expressed his intention to pursue his original entrepreneurial ventures which will be outside Smart Communications, Inc.”

Smart stated that it has accepted his decision and wished him well in his future ventures. The statement did not provide further details on the timing or specifics of the transition.

Martirez’s second stint as COO lasted barely a year. He returned in September 2024, personally backed by Pangilinan, who tasked him with making Smart the market leader again. Martirez adopted an aggressive stance.

At an industry summit in November 2024, Martirez vowed not only to beat Ayala-led Globe Telecom but also to challenge mobile payments giant GCash by reviving Smart Money.

Related Tags

Smart Communications Inc. MVP Group

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