Daven Tamayo

Boardroom Tea: Puregold heir Vincent Co steps into spotlight

Article (news)

Salve Ibaňez

ABS-CBN News

<div><strong>THE HEIRESS WHO DOESN’T MINCE WORDS</strong></div><p>Eleonor “Elyo” Lee Teo, sole daughter of online stock brokerage pioneer Edward Lee, has added another accolade to her impressive résumé—selected as a class speaker at Columbia University’s graduation ceremonies last week.</p><p>The university lauded her for developing the Market Accelerator Program, which pairs students with local startups to build formidable brands—effectively bridging the academia-industry gap that remains a work in progress in Manila.</p><p>Her initiative earned her team the coveted Organization of the Year at last year’s Dean’s Excellence Awards, an achievement this mother of two confessed she never imagined possible.</p><p>Tracking how the next generation will navigate boardroom dynamics in Filipino conglomerates has long fascinated me. The personalities shaping tomorrow’s business landscape offer a captivating study, and I’ve watched with particular interest how Edward’s three children are expanding their father’s growing empire.</p><p>Elyo, for example, shatters the stereotypical heir mold. </p><p>Years ago, I witnessed her transformative impact firsthand after delivering a talk at Enderun University. While I battled a sea of Generation Alpha faces buried in smartphones despite my interactive presentation, Elyo took the podium and pulled no punches.</p><p>She bluntly informed these privileged youngsters that such attitudes would likely doom them to failure. None of the walking-on-eggshells technique most of us feel we have to use these days when talking to the young.</p><p>The result? Spines straightened, phones disappeared, and they hung on her every word. Even my own 17-year-old admitted preferring her straight talk to my carefully crafted presentation. Read her book “Raising Heirs” to see why.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747833115737viber_image_2025-05-20_18-13-33-799.jpg" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:750px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747833139338viber_image_2025-05-20_12-15-49-858.jpg" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Eleonor Lee Teo holds a degree from Columbia University SPS (School of Professional Studies). <em>Courtesy: Eleonor Lee Teo</em></span></span></span></div><div><strong>NEW SHERIFF FOR THE &#x27;CLAPPERS&#x27;</strong></div><p>The Consumer Lending Association of the Philippines—the industry body representing both tech-enabled and traditional SEC-regulated lenders—has appointed a new president.</p><p>Arianne Ferrer, Tala Philippines’ External Affairs Director, now takes the helm.</p><p>In Tala, she navigates relationships with national government, local authorities, and key stakeholders promoting financial inclusion and autonomy among underserved, unbanked Filipinos.</p><p>Her formidable background includes expertise in arbitration, antitrust, and white-collar crime from her time as corporate and litigation counsel at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala &amp; Cruz.</p><p>With legal and economic credentials from the University of the Philippines and University of Chicago, she succeeds Juanhand CEO Francisco “Coco” Mauricio following the completion of his term.</p><p>Ms. Ferrer says her priorities during her term include organizing an industry symposium in July to find real-world, practical solutions for industry players . She will also focus on fighting fraud and scams as well as digital literacy.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:750px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17478332735621747833271623.jpeg" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:750px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Arianne Ferrer, External Affairs Director. <em>TALA Philippines </em></span></span></span></div><div><strong> PROPERTY PLAYS BEYOND MANILA’S CONCRETE JUNGLE</strong></div><p>Italpinas Development Corporation Chairman and CEO Arch. Romolo V. Nati joined me and my co-anchor Ron Cruz recently on Business Outlook at ANC, offering candid insights about Metro Manila’s predictable condominium oversupply—POGO exodus notwithstanding. </p><p>While this market correction creates a buyer’s paradise with developers and financiers more amenable to lowering long-inflated urban property prices, the real estate conversation takes a more intriguing turn outside the capital.</p><p>No fewer than three separate sources have piqued my interest in Manolo Fortich properties, particularly in an area called Dahilayan that evokes Swiss countryside vibes at a fraction of European prices. Just temper your expectations about the adventure park with its plastic menagerie, a beautiful little birdie cautioned me last Sunday. The real investment play might be the land itself, not the attractions currently adorning it.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/5/14/boardroom-tea-ceo-matchmaking-in-the-works-2100">Boardroom Tea: Swipe right for the C-Suite? CEO matchmaking in the works<br/></a></div><div><strong>I SPY</strong></div><p>A Boardroom Tea insider met the retail heir who recently went viral due to his rumored relationship with a famous celebrity.</p><p>Puregold Price Club Inc President Ferdinand Vincent Co led the opening of Puregold&#x27;s Tindahan ni Aling Puring 2025 Convention held last May 15, 2025. The low-profile businessman has been at the helm of Puregold since 2015 and he also serves as an executive in their family&#x27;s other ventures, such as in real estate.</p><p>But the now-famous businessman has evaded the spotlight (and the cameras) during the event. Maybe he&#x27;ll agree to an interview next time?</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747833423784Vincent Co 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Puregold Price Club President Vincent Co during the Puregold&#x27;s Tindahan ni Aling Puring 2025 Convention. <em>Photo: Boardroom Tea Insider</em></span></span></span></div><p>(Email salve.duplito@gmail.com if you have more tea you would like me to spill)</p><div><em>Boardroom Tea comes out every Wednesday</em></div>

<p>A Boardroom Tea insider met the retail heir who recently went viral due to his rumored relationship with a famous celebrity.</p>

A Boardroom Tea insider met the retail heir who recently went viral due to his rumored relationship with a famous celebrity.