As Filipinos wholeheartedly accept responsibilities, they dedicate themselves to the quality of the work that they and climb the career ladder as they go, making it to the top brass as they are recognized for their headstrong will to be part of the decision makers. For 2018 TFT Top Executive of the Year Jesus Metelo Arias Jr, the challenges he overcame and the fresh opportunities for growth that he brought for his company landed him the position of the Vice President for Marketing, Sales, and Service at Ford Motor Company for Middle East and Africa – one of the biggest names in the vehicle industry in the world today.
Leading by example
With the skills that he has shown over the years, he has earned the trust of his company and managed the operations of Ford in the whole of Middle East as well as in other locations around the globe including Japan, Thailand, China, Vietnam, and India. Arias said that one of keys to his success is being an example for his colleagues. “I believe having the right attitude and commitment towards anything that you do will always pay off. I practice emotional resilience, believe in an open door policy & ensure transparent communication with all my staff. I reward, recognize and share success equally with all my team members,” said Arias.
Planning towards success
One of the biggest challenges that Arias faced was in Vietnam where Ford experienced a non-profitable, declining market share. In a few years’ time, he worked together with his team to create a more viable operational plan aimed at long term growth. “I revamped the operations, improved engagement with my team and the dealers. Systematically worked out a long term sustainable growth plan and ensured that the team and all other stakeholders are aligned with my objective,” shares Arias. He is likewise known for establishing the Ford organization in ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) as well as the launch of Mazda in the Philippines.
The Importance of Integrity
Arias shares that of all the lessons he learned along the way, he found out that the three most important ones are Integrity, emotional resilience, and adaptability – three traits which are innate for Filipinos especially those who work abroad. “Although I do not compromise on any of them, I believe Integrity is the key. Integrity helps in building trust, which is the platform of relationships that form the foundation of a successful business,” said Arias.
