Thursday, August 30, 2007 Int’l club invites Cebuano CEOs
THE Chief Executive Officers (CEO) Club, a non-profit organization composed of top corporate decision-makers in the world, has chosen to expand its elite membership in the Philippines and will now start recruiting Cebuano CEOs.
“It’s a by-invitation only membership association,” CEO Club Philippines co-founder Susan Barlin said of the advocacy group that provides an opportunity for local and international CEOs from different industries to establish linkages and improve the quality and profitability of their enterprises through shared experience.
She said the Philippine chapter is the first in Southeast Asia.
“I believe now is the right time to open a chapter here because we have everything to offer plus more,” she said, citing the Filipinos’ hospitality, English proficiency, culture as well as the aggressiveness of the private and public sectors.
Barlin, in a press interview organized by the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. and the Department of Tourism 7 during the Filipiniana Night at the Marco Polo Plaza, said that because the club allows its members to expand globally by interacting directly with top executives from multinational companies, joining the group “is a chance that Cebuano CEOs shouldn’t miss.”
Qualifications
Barlin said CEOs who employ more than 100 people and have over P20 million in assets are qualified to join the club.
According to its website, members of the 30-year old entrepreneurial membership club are CEOs with businesses that earn above $2 million in annual sales. Its average club member has $20 million in annual sales.
Membership fee is pegged at $250 annually.
The CEO Club has attracted international figures like Ted Turner, Fred Smith, Richard DeVos, Royal Little, Edson De Castro, Steve Forbes, Victor Kiam, David Neeleman, Pat McGovern, Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump.
Its lifetime members are the founders of America Online, Jim Kimsey and Steve Case.
The club is comprised of more than 10,000 members from 25 delegations in the United States., Korea, United Arab Emirates and China.
Barlin, who was designated as a special envoy for investment and tourism promotion, said that because the club will be holding chapter meetings eight times a year, the Philippines and Cebu, in particular, can be a corporate meeting hub in Asia.
She said Cebu is a “very good candidate” with its proven track record as a business and leisure destination.
The next batch of CEO Club Philippines meetings will be held in Cebu this October.
Barlin also said the club is planning to develop a 70-hectare “CEO Island” in Buswanga, Palawan. The exclusive island will be venue of conferences of CEO Club chapters worldwide.
“Imagine holding meetings in your beach attire with your family members around,” she said.
She said the island is donated by Steve Tajanlangit while the development will be financed by the CEO Club Philippine chapter. It would be the first resort-type development by a chapter of the club, she added.
CEO Club Philippines has invited a hotel company to manage the island-resort as construction is expected to begin next year.
Barlin said the “CEO corporate island” will be another attraction, consisting of four villas, yachts and function rooms, among others. (MMM)
