Alfonso Zobel de Ayala y Roxas, father of Ayala Corporation Chairman Emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala, was born.
Don Alfonso joined Ayala y Compañia as managing partner in 1929, the year after he had married Carmen Pfitz y Herrero.
He served various roles in the different Ayala businesses. When his brother Jacobo Zobel y Roxas retired, the responsibility of managing Ayala y Cia. was passed on to Don Alfonso and his brother-in-law, Colonel Joseph McMicking. Don Alfonso and Col. McMicking worked as a team, until Don Alfonso’s retirement in 1964. Their tandem worked very well, with Don Alfonso fleshing out what Col. McMicking had envisioned. They collaborated in transforming Makati into a premier business district.
Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, was regarded by Colonel McMicking as among the “greatest” of the Ayala partners. He passed away on March 13, 1967.
Source: Kuwentong Ayala, vol. 8, no. 5, November–December 1977, pp. 13 and 17; Eduardo Lachica, Ayala: The Philippines’ Oldest Business House [Makati: Filipinas Foundation, 1984], pp. 147–48
