ING Philippines Celebrates 35 Years of Empowering Leaders with ECCP Partnership and Inspiring Forum on Purposeful Leadership
Leadership that empowers, inspires, and transforms—this was the spirit behind ING Philippines’ 35th anniversary celebration, marked by the “Do Your Thing: Lead with Impact” leadership forum held in partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) at the Grand Hyatt Manila. The event brought together over a hundred emerging leaders and executives from business and finance sectors to exchange insights on what it means to lead with purpose in today’s rapidly changing world.
Empowering Filipinos to ‘Do Their Thing’ for 35 Years
For over three decades, ING Philippines has built a strong legacy of trust and innovation in financial services. In his opening remarks, Jun Palanca, Country Manager of ING Philippines, emphasized the company’s people-first philosophy.
“At ING, we believe in empowering people to go further, do their thing, and create meaningful change. Strong leadership is essential to achieving lasting impact, and this forum reflects our commitment to nurturing the next generation of changemakers.”
The milestone event also underscored ING’s mission to shape future-ready leaders capable of navigating the complexities of the modern financial landscape.
Insights from Leaders: Transformation, Integrity, and Impact
The forum featured two engaging sessions designed to spark conversation and learning among today’s and tomorrow’s leaders.
1. Fireside Chat: “Do Your Thing: Lead with Impact”
Former RCBC President and CEO Eugene Acevedo, author of Never Stand Alone and The Future Leader, shared insights on digital transformation and leadership reinvention. He emphasized that technology is only a small part of the equation.
“Digital transformation is 90% transformational and 10% digital. Culture is what matters most. A company cannot be digitally transformed unless it is digitally ready.”
The session was moderated by Lenin Duenas, Head of Corporate Sector and Financial Institutions Coverage at ING Philippines, who steered the discussion on purposeful leadership and delivering results with integrity.
2. Panel Discussion: “Leading Across Generations and Beyond”
A multigenerational panel explored how leaders can inspire diverse teams to work toward shared goals. Panelists included Carlo Puno (Globe Telecom), Raffy Montemayor (Salmon Group and Salmon Bank), Philip Dy (Metrobank Foundation), and Jessica Sy (SM Prime Holdings), moderated by Nic Chua of ING Philippines.
The conversation highlighted the value of adaptability and empathy in leadership, especially when bridging generational perspectives in the workplace.
Celebrating Collaboration and Shared Growth
The forum also served as a reminder of ING’s global roots and strong international partnerships. H.E. Marielle Geraedts, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Philippines, commended ING’s 35-year contribution to the country’s financial landscape and praised its 6,000-strong Manila team as a core driver of the company’s regional success.
Meanwhile, Paulo Duarte, President of ECCP, expressed pride in the partnership:
“As the Philippines continues to rise as a strategic market in Asia, cultivating strong leadership across sectors is vital to sustaining inclusive growth and innovation.”
Three Decades of Milestones and Forward Momentum
Since establishing operations in 1990, ING has achieved numerous milestones that strengthened its role in the Philippine financial ecosystem. Notably, it was the first foreign bank to obtain a universal banking license in the country in 1996. To date, the company has facilitated 194 capital market transactions worth over USD 28 billion and supported 80 mergers and acquisitions valued at USD 35 billion.
These achievements reflect ING’s enduring commitment to the Philippines—empowering businesses, driving sustainable finance, and inspiring the next generation of leaders to create lasting impact.
As ING Philippines celebrates 35 years, its message to leaders is clear: lead with integrity, empower others, and stay true to your purpose. Through forums like Do Your Thing: Lead with Impact, the bank continues to champion leadership that goes beyond profit—one that prioritizes people, culture, and long-term progress.
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