Chapter 63: Looking for Leadership for the Subsidiary

Timothy followed the movement of the receptionist who had carefully sat down the bowl of fries and the cup of tea.The way the fries was plated made it look more like something out of a café than a simple snack. Golden brown, still steaming lightly, with just enough salt dusted on top to make anyone’s mouth water.

Timothy reached forward, picked one up, and bit into it. Crispy outside, soft inside. He nodded. "Delicious."

He turned slightly toward Hana, holding the bowl closer. "Want some?"

Hana shook her head quickly. "We should conduct business now, Mr. Guerrero. Mr. Reyes already said it’s time."

Timothy smirked, picking up another fry and holding it out toward her. "Just one bite. Come on."

Her eyes darted to the fries. For a split second, Timothy caught it—the tiny glitter of interest in her eyes, the way she lingered just a moment too long. He raised an eyebrow knowingly.

"You want it," Timothy said lightly.

Hana’s lips pressed together, and she tried to look away. But then she sighed, leaned forward, and with a quick motion, grabbed the fry straight from his fingers. She popped it into her mouth without a word.

Timothy chuckled softly. "See? Delicious, right? In moments like this, we shouldn’t always look stiff and tense when it comes to business, am I right, sir?"

Reyes leaned back in his chair, watching the exchange with an amused expression. "You’re not wrong, Mr. Guerrero. Business doesn’t always have to be stiff. Sometimes, the most productive meetings are those where people loosen up a little. It helps us see who we’re really dealing with."

Hana, still chewing, gave Timothy a side glance before swallowing quickly. "Alright, fine. It was good. But that’s the last one," she said firmly, adjusting her blouse and sitting straighter in her seat, trying to regain her professional composure.

Timothy smirked, setting the bowl back down in front of him. "Fair enough."

Reyes cleared his throat lightly, the smile still on his face. "Well then, shall we move forward? You said you wanted a full roster for TG Motors Philippines, a subsidiary of TG Mobility Holdings. Well, we can do that. I have here a list of executives that have a history in the automotive industry. Are you going to be the CEO of TG Motors or you will delegate?"

Timothy leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "I’ll remain CEO of TG Mobility Holdings in Singapore. TG Motors Philippines will need its own CEO, someone local or at least someone who understands the Southeast Asian market. I want them to run operations here with independence, but still report directly to me."

Reyes nodded, flipping open a leather portfolio. "That makes sense. Many multinational firms structure it that way. Local leadership tends to work more efficiently with regulators, suppliers, and labor groups. We already have a shortlist of candidates who’ve worked in Toyota Philippines, Mitsubishi Motors, and even Ford’s assembly operations before they closed down. Experienced people who know the landscape."

He continued. "Do you want me to show you the list of candidates for a CEO position?"

Timothy gave a short nod.

Reyes slid a few printed profiles across the table. Each had a headshot, past experience, and key achievements. "These three are our strongest options. One is a former VP of Toyota Philippines, another managed operations for Mitsubishi in Laguna, and the last one worked closely with Ford’s exit strategy here, so he knows both the strengths and weaknesses of the market."

Hana leaned forward, her tablet in hand as she quickly scanned through the profiles. "What about adaptability? TG Motors won’t be a traditional carmaker. We’ll be pushing electric vehicles, and the market here isn’t fully ready yet. Do they have any record of handling transitions or disruptive technologies?"

"That’s a good question," Reyes admitted. "The former Toyota executive has experience pushing hybrid adoption programs, which required educating dealers and consumers. The Mitsubishi candidate spearheaded an internal shift in supply chain strategy when parts shortages hit. The Ford candidate has mostly restructuring experience, though, not expansion."

"I’m thinking of the Ford candidate here," Timothy said, tapping the paper with his finger.

Hana turned her head slightly, curious. "Why him? You just heard what Mr. Reyes said—his strength is restructuring, not expansion. We’re trying to build, not close."

Timothy leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing as if he was piecing something together. "Exactly. He was there when Ford pulled out of the Philippines. He saw firsthand the reasons why manufacturing collapsed here—high operating costs, unstable supply chains, government bureaucracy, even weak local demand. If anyone knows the pitfalls that killed Ford, it’s him. That knowledge is priceless."

Reyes nodded slowly, clearly impressed with Timothy’s reasoning. "That’s true. He was in the thick of it. He negotiated with both the government and Ford headquarters during the shutdown. It was a tough role, but it gave him rare insight into what not to do."

Timothy tapped the sheet again. "That’s why he’s valuable. I don’t need someone who only knows how to ride the wave of success. I need someone who has been through failure, someone who understands why it happened and how to avoid repeating it. If he can recognize the traps, then we’ll know exactly how to sidestep them with TG Motors."

Hana’s brows softened as she studied the profile again. "That does make sense. In a way, he’d be the best candidate to build something new because he knows where the cracks are."

"According to his file, his name is Carlos Mendoza," Reyes said, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at the document. "Former Director of Operations at Ford Philippines. Twenty years in the automotive industry, twelve of those in managerial positions. He was heavily involved in Ford’s assembly plant in Sta. Rosa until the shutdown in 2012. After that, he moved into consultancy for supply chain optimization. Companies still call on him when they’re considering large-scale moves in or out of the country."

Timothy ran a thumb along the edge of the profile sheet, nodding slowly.

"According to his file, his name is Carlos Mendoza," Reyes said, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at the document. "Former Director of Operations at Ford Philippines. Twenty years in the automotive industry, twelve of those in managerial positions. He was heavily involved in Ford’s assembly plant in Sta. Rosa until the shutdown in 2012. After that, he moved into consultancy for supply chain optimization. Companies still call on him when they’re considering large-scale moves in or out of the country."

Timothy ran a thumb along the edge of the profile sheet, nodding slowly.

"Mendoza... sounds like the kind of person who already knows where the landmines are buried."

Hana added, "And if he’s been advising companies since Ford’s exit, then he’s had a front-row seat to how the industry has been shifting over the past decade. That perspective could be exactly what we need. How do we contact him?"

"It’s easy, we give him a call and then you can meet wherever you like."

"Okay, call him."