MANILA — Megaworld Corporation has appointed seasoned real estate and retail executive Javier Hernandez as the new head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, taking over the leadership from Graham Coates as the property giant gears up for an aggressive nationwide footprint growth.
In an official statement released on Thursday, October 15, the company announced that Hernandez will steer its strategic roadmap over the next five years. This includes introducing new lifestyle developments, scaling up current commercial assets, and testing innovative retail formats across its townships. The massive expansion drive supports Megaworld’s long-term goal of hitting one million square meters of retail gross leasable area by 2030.
As part of its near-term pipeline, the enterprise is scheduled to break ground on fresh mall projects spanning Cavite, Rizal, Pampanga, and Bacolod City between this year and the next.
Alliance Global Group Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tan expressed optimism over the transition, welcoming Hernandez to the executive post.
“We are very pleased to welcome Javi to the team. He already has a number of exciting ideas and plans in the pipeline, and we look forward to seeing those take shape as he leads Megaworld Lifestyle Malls into its next chapter,” Tan said.
Tan further noted the brand’s commitment to curating diverse destinations:
“We will continue to bring in global brands and new concepts, while creating more opportunities for Filipino brands and experiences that make each of our destinations distinct. There is still a lot we can do, and we are excited about what comes next.”
Hernandez brings more than 30 years of extensive expertise spanning property development, hospitality, tourism, and retail, with roughly two decades dedicated specifically to mall operations and management. His professional background covers commercial leasing, sales and marketing, leisure destinations, and integrated tourism estates.
Accepting his new portfolio, Hernandez outlined his vision for the company’s trajectory:
“As we work toward our target, our focus will be on growing the business responsibly while continuing to strengthen our existing destinations. We will keep improving the customer experience, bringing relevant and innovative concepts into our malls, creating more opportunities for our mall partners, and exploring new retail formats that complement the continued growth of Megaworld’s townships.”
Hernandez succeeds Coates, who successfully steered the commercial unit for eight years through a challenging period defined by pandemic disruptions, subsequent market recovery, and sustained growth.
Under Coates’ leadership, the mall portfolio expanded through high-profile additions like the Imperial Wing at Lucky Chinatown, The Shoppes at McKinley West, and the major redevelopment of Eastwood Mall.
Coates’ tenure also marked major commercial milestones, including the introduction of electric vehicle pioneer Tesla via its Experience Center at Uptown Bonifacio, the expansion of international retail chains KKV and Nitori, and lifestyle entertainment additions such as the Uptown Tempur Cinema and the REP Eastwood Theater, which serves as the permanent home of Repertory Philippines.
Currently, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls oversees a robust network of 27 commercial hubs nationwide, seamlessly integrating retail, dining, entertainment, and cultural spaces within the developer’s master-planned townships.