Atty. Rodolfo “Rudy” Publico has served as an independent director for Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) since the company started operations in the country in 2013.
Throughout his years in the company, Atty. Publico’s wisdom and guidance helped HCPH succeed and build the brand’s reputation as the leading consumer finance company, providing access to practical, affordable, and responsible financial solutions to over 8 million Filipinos.
As an independent director, Atty. Publico was one of the most vital members of the board responsible for setting HCPH’s strategic direction and risk appetite. He was part of the Board Committee that developed the company-wide strategic, risk, financial, regulatory, and reputational affairs.
Atty. Publico’s expertise and experience provided valuable insights to the HCPH Board of Directors and the Board Committees as the basis for making critical decisions.
Atty. Publico was chairman of the Risk Management Committee from 2020 to 2021, a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Internal Audit Committee from 2019 to 2021, and a member of the Compensation Committee in 2015 and 2016.
In all the years he was part of the HCPH Board Committees, Atty. Publico ensured that the company strictly complied with the requirements of the government regulatory agencies.
Atty. Publico was instrumental in the organization of the very first Data Privacy Conference in 2017, sponsored by HCPH in partnership with the National Privacy Commission and the Philippine Financing Association, in which he was Chairman Emeritus.
An exceptional law practitioner
Atty. Publico ranked 3rd amongst 156 graduates when he finished his studies at the University of the Philippines with the degree of Associate in Arts and Bachelor of Laws. He attained an impressive 85.95 percent general average in the Bar.
With his academic standing and impressive bar result, he was elected as member in all honors societies open to law students, became the legislation editor of the Philippine Law Journal of the University of the Philippines, and is now a Life member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
His early years
Prior to being an independent director at HCPH in 2013, Atty. Publico was, among others, Vice-President of Citibank N.A. and eventually Regional Head for Legal and Credit for all Citibank branches and subsidiaries in the Philippines and Guam. He also became Senior Vice-President of Citytrust Banking, and concurrently Chief Operating Officer of Citytrust Finance Corporation and Senior Vice-President of other Citytrust subsidiaries.
He held board directorships in FNCB Finance Inc, DMG Group of Companies, Mantrade Development Corp., FEATI Bank, Citytrust Finance Corp, and four other Citytrust subsidiaries.
Atty. Publico held corporate secretaryships in several corporations including DRB Marketing Corp., First Nationwide Credit Corp., FNCB, and Citytrust Banking Corp. and 5 subsidiaries.
Among his many other professional affiliations is his 5-year term as president of the Philippine Association of Finance Corporations and founding Chairman and Charter President of the Asian Leasing Association.
Home Credit Philippines, where he served as an independent director, is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).