President Marcos has appointed former bank president Henry Rhoel Aguda as the new secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Aguda, the former president and chief executive officer of UnionDigital Bank, replaces Ivan John Uy, who resigned earlier this month.
Malacañang made the announcement on Thursday night, March 20.
Aguda previously served as the Digital Infrastructure Lead at the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), a council created by Marcos to assist his administration in fostering innovative synergies between the private and public sectors.
According to Malacañang, Aguda's experience spans the banking, technology and telecommunications sectors. His specialty is in digital transformation, digital banking, and financial crimes.
Before joining UnionDigital Bank, he served as the board chairman of both City Savings Bank and UBX Philippines.
He also served as director of Insular Health Care, BancNet, Metaverse Ventures and Platforms and Philippine Clearing House Corp.; senior executive vice president, among other positions, at Union Bank of the Philippines; and chief technology officer at Amihan Global Strategies, Globe Telecom, Government Service Insurance System, and Digitel.
Aguda was in charge of software development services at WeServ Systems International, led Nextel's information operations, and was the assistant vice president at Bayantel Communication Holdings, and managed the corporate data network for the Manila Electric Company.
The new DICT chief completed his Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree at the University of the Philippines, graduating with honors (cum laude) in both instances.
He also took graduate studies in Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, Strategic Alliance Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and master’s degree in Applied Business Economics at the University of Asia and the Pacific.