New RCBC Bankard chief executive pursues goals in and out of the field
In his blue uniform and knee-high sports socks, it’s easy to imagine this young football player with the laidback and unassuming attitude as anyone but a corporate president and CEO.
But like any successful individual who defies clichés, that’s his fascinating flipside.
Despite the demands of his new position at the helm of credit card provider RCBC Bankard Services Corp., 36-year-old Simon Calasanz makes it a point to lead an active lifestyle.
That’s why, on a regular basis, he goes to the gym, does boxing, and on some fine, sunny Saturdays, heads out to the fields with his teammates and hits the ball running. Football is the sport that Calasanz has loved since he was practically a preschooler.
“I started playing football when I was three or four years old, then joined the varsity team at Colegio San Agustin,” said the bespectacled, young man. He took up tennis in high school and college, and then picked up football again four years ago. Now he’s part of the team playing for Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) in the Corporate Football League, which was organized in 2012.
Sports, he acknowledges, helps feed his hunger for achievement outside the boardroom. His journey to the top of the pressure-filled yet dynamic financial services industry, taken in just 14 years, exemplifies his belief to make things better, personally and professionally.
“I started from the bottom, as a credit analyst at HSBC in 2002. From there I received a series of promotions that landed me in the positions of assistant manager for MIS team and then product management head,” he said.
Simon then became president and chairman of the Credit Card Association of the Philippines from 2009-2012. “I represented the industry in the Senate, Congress, and sectoral meetings at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” he said. “It was an honor and a privilege because, to occupy that position, you would have to gain the respect and trust of very senior members in the credit card industry.”
Growing the RCBC Bankard business
After a three-year stint in sales and service that rounded out his experience in retail banking, Calasanz was invited to head RCBC’s credit card issuing company, RCBC Bankard. The previous president and CEO, Oscar Biason, is credited with turning the company around into a solidly profitable business.
To continue that legacy, Calasanz has broad stroke strategies put in place that include strengthening relationship with acquisition channels and partners, growing RCBC Bankard’s receivable base through more product innovations, and enhancement of processes and technologies.
“In the short term, I want to turn out a P1 billion portfolio,” he said. “Last year, we made P700 million. With the initiatives we’ve now put in place, the P1 billion target in three years looks to be achievable by the end of this year.”
Just as in football where teamwork is essential, Calasanz makes it a point to bond with his staff. “I don’t like it when people think individualistically,” he said. “You may be working under different teams, but we’re all after the same goal, which is to make RCBC Bankard successful, to serve our customers, and protect the interests of our shareholders.” Keeping himself grounded
Though he has risen to the very top, Calasanz keeps both feet at ground level. “On a regular basis, I have coffee with about 15 to 20 individuals from across my company, people from compliance, managers, those who capture data and who are in charge of administration.
“People on the ground are the best ones to tell you if there’s a need to improve a process, and because I give importance to what they say, we earn each other’s respect and give back greater value,” he continued.
He also meets and converses regularly with key stakeholders, especially with merchant partners, to look for opportunities to help each other.
While Calasanz reports directly to the RBSC board of directors, he also updates RCBC chairperson Helen Y. Dee, who he said displays a strong affinity for the credit card business.
Naturally, so many plans and big expectations keep him on his toes a lot – making him fleet-footed on and off the field.