Charo Santos-Concio becomes CEO of ABS-CBN Corporation
Charo Santos-Concio seems to have reached the pinnacle of her career, as she takes on the helm of television giant ABS-CBN Corp. as its chief executive officer (CEO).
The media conglomerate announced on Wednesday that Ma. Rosario "Charo" Santos-Concio will be its new CEO effective Jan. 1, 2013, in addition to being the company's president and chief content officer.
Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, meanwhile, will continue to be chairman of the ABS-CBN Board.
"As ABS-CBN President, Santos-Concio conceptualized strategies and solutions for the company's growth, helping it achieve profit margins, record-high advertising revenues, and leadership in natiowide TV ratings," a e-mailed statement said.
A homegrown talent and executive, Santos-Concio rose up the ranks in ABS-CBN since she joined as a consultant in 1987.
Prior to serving as the company's president in 2008, she was ABS-CBNC's head for Channel 2 in 2006, executive vice president in 1998, senior vice-president for TV production in 1996, vice president for production operations in 1991 and director for programs in 1989.
She also worked for the network as programming executive and producer and is credited for top-rating programs such as "Esperanza", "Pangako Sa Yo", "May Bukas Pa" and "Home Along Da Riles" as well as high-grossing and box ofice record-breaking Star Cinema movies.
Santos-Concio, fondly called "Ate Charo", also hosts the long-running drama anthology "Maalaala Mo Kaya."
[See photos: ABS-CBN Christmas station ID]
Throughout her career, Santos-Concio has received various awards for her work, including the Film Academy of the Philippines' Manuel de Leon Award, the Catholic Mass Media Awards Hall of Fame Award for "Maalaala Mo Kaya", as well as the Press and Movie Press Club Star and Anak TV Awards.
She first joined media as a production assistant in "John en Marsha," before becoming a drama actress and producer for BanCom Audiovision, Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, Vanguard Films, Regal Films, and Vision Exponents.
Her acting stint, meanwhile, included roles in critically acclaimed films, such as "Brutal", "Kisapmata", "Gumapang Ka sa Lusak."
Santos-Concio has also won a Best Actress Award in the 1987 Asian Film Festival for Mike de Leon's "Itim."
She graduated cum laude from St. Paul's College in Manila with a degree in Communications Arts and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2007.
