AYALA Corp.’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Vice Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala has taken a medical leave.

Ayala Corp. said that Zobel de Ayala will continue to serve as a board member.

A filing made on Monday with the Philippine Stock Exchange showed that Cezar Consing will serve as the company’s interim president, CEO and executive committee member.

Consing is currently the director of Ayala, ACEN Corp., Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Globe Telecom Inc.

He also served as Ayala’s senior managing director and BPI’s president and CEO from 2013 to 2021.

Meanwhile, Delfin Lazaro will serve as vice chairman of the executive committee.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala confirmed the news in a Facebook post.

He explained that his brother is taking a temporary medical leave to “focus on improving his health.”

“I want to assure everyone that Fernando is in high spirits, but he has asked for some time to focus on his health and recovery,” said Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

“We all have so many responsibilities and commitments in all aspects of our lives, but first and foremost, we should all prioritize our health and well-being,” he added.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala added that the family is “fully supportive” of his brother’s decision to take a leave so he can do whatever is necessary to rebuild his strength.

“Let us all give Fernando the support he needs to focus on improving his health, and Bong [Consing] and Del [Lazaro] our confidence as they take on their new roles,” he concluded in his post.