Davy Tan - VP for Business DevelopmentDavy Tan, Rockwell Land Corporation vice president and head of Business Development and Cebu Projects, wasn’t always in sales.

He joined the premium property developer in 2007 as a financial analyst, reporting to now Rockwell Land chief financial officer Ellen Almodiel. In 2009, he moved to Business Development, which consisted of a complement of three, including himself.

As Rockwell Land pursued its expansion in Cebu in 2012, Tan was given charge and he eventually relocated from Manila to Cebu late last year. He now reports directly to Rockwell Land president and chief executive officer Nestor J. Padilla.

“It was hard and not feasible to manage our Cebu projects when I was in Manila. We had to make sure that our policies, values and culture would be the same in Rockwell Cebu as in Rockwell Manila. At first, my wife had mixed emotions, but eventually she understood and is now perfectly okay living in Cebu,” Tan recalls.

Biggest challenge

He says his biggest challenge has been introducing a Rockwell residential development in Cebu.

“Most of them know Rockwell as the owner of Power Plant Mall in Makati. I have to do a lot of networking and meet as many of the who’s who in Cebu to show them what Rockwell development or Rockwell living means. I have to show them the Rockwell lifestyle that showcases lush landscaping, elegant architecture and, of course, the revered Rockwell service.”

His biggest learning thus far has been to manage a project from acquisition to unit delivery.

“This means from land acquisition, selling the end product or the project itself, construction, unit delivery and property management. Before Cebu (in Business Development), I just acquired or found land for development and helped in product planning.”

Lopez Values applied, observed

His work gives him plenty of opportunity to practice the Lopez Values of a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit and integrity.

Meanwhile, being an accountant serves him in good stead in his current role.

“This (accounting background) helps me greatly in choosing options to take, formulating strategy and coaching my staff.”

He oversees a staff of 40, covering sales, construction, finance and human resources, aside from dealing with a host of contractors and consultants.

Active in Rotary

Tan has grown to love his new home, where everything “is just an hour or two away.” He has visited the mountains in Balamban, Kawasan Falls in Badian, the beaches of Moalboal and the attractions of Bantayan. He is also active in Rotary Cebu, which helps children in remote areas by repairing or expanding school buildings and providing desks and finding potable water sources.

“This (helping) gives meaning to why I exist.”

Given the time, Tan looks forward to traveling around the world for 300 days straight. He wants to meet people of different races and find out about their culture. But that will have wait while Rockwell Land remains in expansion mode in the medium term.

Acknowledging that life goals change as people move forward and achieve the goals they’ve set in the past, Tan tells LopezLink readers: “I always believe that nothing is impossible. It is just a matter of time before things happen and everything will be in its right place.” (Story/Photos by: Carla Paras-Sison)