RIDE-HAILING firm Grab Philippines announced Ronald Roda’s appointment as the new country head yesterday.

Roda will replace Grace Vera Cruz who moved into a regional role as Grab’s head of regional corporate strategy.

This planned succession is part of Grab’s commitment to nurturing talent and demonstrates the depth of Filipino leadership in the organization.

Roda was most recently chief operating officer of Grab Philippines and he has led the GrabCar business for over six years.

Under his leadership, Grab expanded its reach from 8 cities to over 200 cities in the Philippines since 2018, making Grab’s services accessible to millions more Filipinos.

 Vera Cruz will continue to be based in the Philippines in her regional capacity, to ensure a smooth transition and operational continuity. 

During the pandemic, when the GrabCar business was temporarily shut down, Roda adapted swiftly to sustain business operations and transforming it into a more reliable and affordable service post-pandemic.

Roda has played a crucial role in creating over 72,000 livelihood opportunities in the first half of 2024, bringing the total to over 270,000 since 2023.

This is in line with the company’s commitment to the Philippine government to create 500,000 livelihood opportunities over the next five years.

Ride-hailing firm Grab Philippines announced Ronald Roda’s appointment as the new country head yesterday.

Roda will replace Grace Vera Cruz who moved into a regional role as Grab’s head of regional corporate strategy.

This planned succession is part of Grab’s commitment to nurturing talent and demonstrates the depth of Filipino leadership in the organization.

Roda was most recently chief operating officer of Grab Philippines and he has led the GrabCar business for over six years.

Under his leadership, Grab expanded its reach from 8 cities to over 200 cities in the Philippines since 2018, making Grab’s services accessible to millions more Filipinos.

During the pandemic, when the GrabCar business was temporarily shut down, Ronald adapted swiftly to sustain business operations and transforming it into a more reliable and affordable service post-pandemic.

Roda has played a crucial role in creating over 72,000 livelihood opportunities in the first half of 2024, bringing the total to over 270,000 since 2023.

This is in line with the company’s commitment to the Philippine government to create 500,000 livelihood opportunities over the next five years.

“I am honored to take on the role of Country Head for Grab Philippines, and I am committed to continuing the great work and building on the strong relationships established under Grace’s leadership,” said Roda in a statement

“My goal is to continue making Grab a true partner for growth, providing innovative solutions that benefit Filipinos across the nation. Together, we will further enhance the quality of life for our consumers and driver-partners, and strengthen the pathways for success for our MSMEs and corporate partners, ensuring that Grab remains a vital contributor to the Philippines’ socio-economic development,” Roda added.

Grace Vera Cruz will continue to be based in the Philippines in her regional capacity, to ensure a smooth transition and operational continuity. Her ongoing presence signifies her continued commitment to supporting the Philippine market and strengthening Grab’s long-standing partnerships.

“I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support, collaboration, trust, and openness from all our partners and stakeholders who have believed in Grab’s success during my tenure,” said Vera Cruz.