Dennis Anthony Uy

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Dennis Anthony Uy
Uy in 2023
Born (1966-06-01) June 1, 1966 (age 57)
EducationHoly Angel University
OccupationBusinessman
Known forFounder and owner of Converge ICT
SpouseMaria Grace Yao

Dennis Anthony H. Uy is a Filipino businessman who is known for being the founder of Converge ICT.

Early life and education[edit]

Dennis Anthony Uy was born on June 1, 1966, in Fukien (now Fujian), China.[1] In China, the Uys lived in poverty with one meal a day already considered "a blessing".[2] When he moved in, he could not speak English nor Tagalog.[3] Dennis Uy and his family emigrated to the Philippines in 1977 with the help of his uncle Johnny Uy.[2] At age 11, Uy worked as a cold storage handyman at Johnny's Supermarket, which was considered as the oldest supermarket in Angeles City and was run by his uncle.[4]

The younger Uy spent his studies in Angeles City, attending Chevalier School for his high school studies[1] and the Holy Angel University where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1992.[5]

Career[edit]

As a high school student, Uy sold Betamax and VHS tapes he sourced from Greenhills in San Juan, Metro Manila which later led to him setting up Jack's Video, a Betamax and VHS rental service with his brother in Angeles City.[1] Uy would stop his Betamax and VHS business in the early 1990s as the technology is becoming obsolete.[6] Dennis Uy later set up the Angeles City Cable and Television Network, a cable television provider which caters to Central Luzon.[1]

He expanded to the broadband and fiber optics business founding the ComClark Network and Technology Corp. in 1996 which later became Converge ICT.[1] He has also expressed his vision to develop Angeles City, his hometown, as a technology hub similar to Silicon Valley.[7] Converge under his watch also pursued a bid to become the third major telecommunications provider in the Philippines in 2018 after Globe and PLDT, but lost to Dito Telecommunity associated with his namesake Dennis Ang Uy.[3] Globe acknowledge Converge as a bigger competitor than Dito despite Converge losing the bid.[8]

In 2021, Uy became a board member of Silicon Valley-based firm Axiado Corp.[9] In 2023, President Bongbong Marcos appointed him as his special envoy to Korea for digital transformation.[10] He took his oath of office on October 4, 2023.[11]

Uy and his wife pose with Marcos after taking his oath of office as special envoy.

Personal life[edit]

Dennis Uy is married to Maria Grace Yao, who is also a co-founder of Converge.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Manabat, Ashley (November 24, 2020). "From VHS tapes to fiber optic business: Emerging telco magnate Dennis H. Uy bags entrepreneur award". BusinessMirror. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Pampanga entrepreneur outruns largest PH telcos". Manila Standard. April 10, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Ichimura, Anri (July 7, 2020). "The Other Dennis Uy: Who Is Dennis Anthony Uy, CEO of Converge?". Esquire. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Camus, Miguel (September 15, 2020). "Angeles City retail pioneer Johnny Uy dies at 98". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  5. ^ Ramos, Gerry (March 11, 2022). "Converge CEO Dennis Uy emerges as frontrunner in sale of Alaska's PBA franchise". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "BIZ BUZZ: Silicon Valley, Pampanga". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 18, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Converge CEO aims to build 'tech city' in Pampanga". BusinessWorld. October 29, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Fuentes, Art (November 16, 2021). "Which Dennis Uy? Globe chief hints Converge 'bigger competition' than DITO". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Camus, Miguel R. (December 1, 2021). "Converge's Dennis Uy joins board of US data security startup". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  10. ^ Gita-Carlos, Ruth Abbey (July 21, 2023). "Dennis Uy is PBBM envoy to Korea for digital transformation". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  11. ^ Mangaluz, Jean (October 4, 2023). "President swears in Dennis Uy as special envoy to South Korea". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  12. ^ Grana, Rhia (March 13, 2022). "Exclusive: Power lady and Forbes favorite Grace Uy on the one event that shaped her life". ANCX. Retrieved March 20, 2022.