San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has named former Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista to its board of directors, electing him as an independent director to fill a seat that has been vacant since June 9.

The election took place during the company's regular board meeting, and Mr. Bautista will serve the remainder of the vacant seat's term, SMC disclosed in a regulatory filing on Wednesday. His addition gives the board a director with experience spanning both government oversight and large-scale corporate operations, a background that can be relevant as listed companies balance governance requirements with business decisions.

"He brings with him years of finance and business experience from the perspective of the private and the government sector, all of which equip him with expertise and proficiency to contribute to the board of directors of the company," SMC said.

Mr. Bautista led the Department of Transportation from 2022 to 2025. His earlier career was spent largely at Philippine Airlines, where he served as president and chief operating officer from 2004 to 2012 and again from 2014 to 2019, and as executive vice-president and chief financial officer from 1993 to 2003.

He currently sits as an independent director of San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. and Eagle Cement Corp. He has also held board positions at Cosco Capital, Inc., Philippine Bank of Communications, Alphaland Corp., Airspeed International Corp., Gothong Southern Shipping Corp., the MacroAsia Group of Companies, and other companies.

A certified public accountant, Mr. Bautista holds a bachelor's degree in commerce, major in accounting, from Colegio de San Letran, where he graduated magna cum laude. He also holds a Doctor of Humanities degree.

SMC shares closed unchanged at P65.80 apiece on Thursday. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno