Leo Rey Yanson

President and Chief Executive Officer of Vallacar Transit

Leo Rey Yanson (January 12) is a Filipino businessman. He is the President and CEO of Vallacar Transit, Incorporated, the Philippines’ largest bus conglomerate. Together with her mother Olivia Villaflores Yanson (OVY) and his sister Ginette Yanson-Dumangcas (GYD), they are currently at the helm of VTI currently operating more than 4,800 buses nationwide, with more than 18,000 employees and providing transportation services to around 700,000 passengers daily.

Family Life

Leo Rey Yanson, popularly known as LRY to colleagues, is the youngest of the six children of Vallacar Transit, Incorporated founder Ricardo Yanson Sr. and Olivia Villaflores Yanson.

Working closely with Vallacar Transit, Incorporated (VTI) patriarch for decades, Founder Dr. Ricardo Y. Yanson, Sr. personally appointed and endorsed Leo Rey Yanson (LRY) has his successor.

Business career

Leo Rey Yanson is largely involved in the Yanson Group of Bus Companies, being the President, chairman, and CEO of Vallacar Transit and affiliates/subsidiaries of the Yanson Group:

Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI)

Leo Rey Yanson sits as chairman of the board and president of VTI while Olivia Yanson, the co-founder of the company, was re-appointed as corporate secretary and treasurer. Olivia Yanson, Ginnette Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Anita Chua, Arvin John Villaruel, and Daniel Nicolas Golez were re-elected as members of VTI’s board of directors during the meeting.

Ceres Liner Travel and Tours, Inc. (CLTTI)

Rural Transit of Mindanao Inc. (RTMI)

RTMI is the third Mindanao-based YGBC-owned bus company. Olivia V. Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas, Anita G. Chua, Rey C. Ardo and Daniel Nicolas P. Golez were re-elected as members of the RTMI Board of Directors.

Southern Star Bus Transit Incorporated (SSBTI)

In 2011, the YGBC conglomerate bought out St. Jude Transportation Company, a bus line based in Bohol, and renamed it Southern Star. Primarily, it was operated under the management of Vallacar Transit Incorporated. Later on, Southern Star formed its own subsidiary as Southern Star Bus Transit Incorporated.

Sports career

Leo Rey’s love for football was cultivated during his academic days in Lasalle Bacolod.

Ceres–Negros FC

Leo Rey Yanson is known for his involvement with Ceres–Negros F.C. which played in the top-flight of Philippine football having played in the United Football League and later in the Philippines Football League (PFL). Aside from being the owner, he also served as the club’s team manager under his leadership, he led the club to become Southeast Asia’s Number 1 club.

In July 2020 amidst the pandemic, Leo Rey focused his time on managing and leading YGBC and had open negotiation for the club’s transfer of management. In a statement, the club said that it is “currently in talks with investors who will be taking over the management and ownership of the club in preparation for the fourth season of the Philippines Football League (PFL) as well as the resumption of the campaign in the AFC Cup.”

Philippine Football Federation

In the 2019 Philippine Football Federation (PFF) elections, Leo Rey openly supported the candidacy of incumbent PFF President Mariano Araneta who seek reelection as the head of the country’s governing body for the sport. Araneta previously decided not to run, but backtracked on his plan after Leo Rey’s brother and Negros Occidental Football Association president Ricky Yanson made a bid to get elected as PFF President. Araneta said that he seek reelection to “preserve unity”, anticipating that if Ricky Yanson won there would be infighting within the federation due to an ongoing dispute among the Yansons over affairs concerning the Vallacar Transit, the Yansons’ family business.

Reference: https://en.everybodywiki.com/Leo_Rey_Yanson