Metro Retail Stores Group names new president, COO

Cebu-based retailer Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) has named Manuel Luis C. Alberto as its new president and chief operating officer (COO), the company announced in a statement.

Alberto replaced Arthur Emmanuel, who retired after six years of being at the helm of MRSGI.

As MRSGI’s new president and COO, Alberto is bent on pushing for the company’s further development and success.

“I am honored to lead MRSGI in such exciting times,” he said. “As the retail landscape and our customers continue to evolve, MRSGI will keep pace with them and stay committed to delivering a delightful shopping experience.”

Retail history

Prior to his appointment, Alberto has served as the company’s chief merchandising and marketing officer. A seasoned retail executive, Alberto’s career spans more than two decades, most of which he spent handling key leadership positions in top companies that included Philippine Familymart Inc., Rustan’s Supercenter Inc., Avon Cosmetics Inc. and Jollibee Foods Corp., to name a few.

Over the years, Alberto has built expertise in retail strategy, store operations, franchise development and relations, merchandising, food safety, supply chain, organizational and systems development, and loss prevention.

He is recognized as a strategic and results oriented leader with a consistent track record of achieving sales and profit targets, cost savings, business development, and implementation of brand strategies for startup, turnaround, and market-leading companies. Alberto is also adept in site selection, as well as store design and development.

In his former role in MRSGI, Alberto played a key role in ensuring that Metro Retail Stores offer a wide assortment of quality products at the best prices-–a value proposition that the company has always been proud of. He also led merchandising improvements and operational efficiencies.

Operating for 36 years now, MRSGI has 51 stores in Central, Western and Eastern Visayas, as well as in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and South Luzon. It has three store formats--a department store, a supermarket and a hypermarket. MRSGI is on track to attaining the goal of doubling its 2015 gross floor area by 2020. /