A Quick Guide to the Rumors inside SMART

The entire Smart organization has become a big corporate grapevine for tons of rumors these days. Many are confused and are afraid of being affected by the organizational change that might be implemented in the coming days.  Here is a guide to the rumors and we hope it will enlighten you and guide you properly.

1. Is it true that the head of our mobile business, Charles A. Lim, is out?

Yes. According to multiple reliable sources, after the company incurred a P5 Billion revenue loss due to the Free Internet Promo since September 2014 which angered MVP, Charles A. Lim also knowned as CAL was asked to step down early March of this year.  Inside PLDT group, the Free Internet Promo is called as the great free mobile data fiasco. The failure of CAL’s price war strategy did not work in Smart and it dragged down the revenue of the entire PLDT group. Another reason is our low morale as Smart Employees. Since he stepped in to take over the mobile business, CAL replaced good people in Smart with his people in Sun. This was known as the great Sun takeover. All key positions were taken over by Sun executives.  We even heard that he engineered the removal of Jane Basas out of Smart. Karma is a bitch!

2. Where will Charles A. Lim go?

There are reports from the same reliable sources that he is on his way to SMCTel to start their telco venture.  Hopefully, his marketing expertise will work there like what he did when he started Sun Cellular.

3. Who will replace him?

Temporarily, Ariel Fermin from PLDT Home will replace CAL and will head the mobile business unit. We hope that he won’t make any “wais” move like what he did during the Gilas vs. NBA Exhibition Game Scandal. There are also reports that former Smart boss and now TV5 head honcho Noel Lorenzana will make a comeback. 

4. What about Big Boss Polly Nazareno?

We should give the guy some break.  With all due respect, our most senior executive who led us during our glory days should be spared from all these rumors inside the company. But we heard from the grapevine that when he retires, PLDT’s Eric Alberto will be his shoe-in successor. 

5. What will happen to Sun employees who were transferred to Smart?

Like what our Chairman MVP said, job security in Smart is suspended unless everyone performs accordingly and unless we recover from the loss revenue brought about by our out-of-date-marketing-directions thanks to CAL. Whether you are long-time Smart employees like me or transferee from Sun, unless we perform, “we have no job security”.  But we think those who are close to CAL and hold key positions are in immediate danger of being replaced, removed and fired.

We hope that this guide helped you achieve clarity and not more confusion. More to come!