Pinky Tobiano, founder and CEO of Qualibet Testing Services, inks partnership deal with Bureau Veritas Assure Quality, a French-based multinational company, making Qualibet the first-ever home-grown testing laboratory to be acquired by a global leader.
Celebrated chemist Pinky Tobiano recently turned over her testing services company to Bureau Veritas Assure Quality, an international firm with a number business interests across the globe. Pinky made a final bow as big boss of Qualibet Testing Services in a recent formal turnover ceremony.
Bureau Veritas has 160 offices all over the world, with 84,000 employees and a net revenue of EU 8.4 billion in 2021. It offers inspection and certification services for companies to gain an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) seal on such fields as food safety, mining, construction, agriculture and feed mill.
Joseph Homer Macapagal, chief country executive of Bureau Veritas Philippines; Pinky Tobiano, CEO Progressive Laboratories and Qualibet Testing Services; Her Excellency Michelle Boccoz, French Ambassador to the Philippines; and John Pan, group manager BVAQ Southeast Asia
Formal signing of the acquisition: (from left) Joseph Homer Macapagal, chief country executive of Bureau Veritas Philippines; Pinky Tobiano, CEO Progressive Laboratories and Qualibet Testing Services; John Pan, group manager BVAQ Southeast Asia
Symbolic handling of the key at the formal turnover ceremony: (from left) Joseph Homer Macapagal, chief country executive of Bureau Veritas Philippines; John Pan, group manager BVAQ Southeast Asia; Pinky Tobiano, CEO Progressive Laboratories and Qualibet Testing Services; Pinky’s dad Julio Tobiano; husband Juan Carlos Robles; and daughters Pianne and Karrel Sinfuego
The development makes Qualibet Testing Services the first Filipino testing laboratory to be acquired by a global leader like Bureau Veritas.
Moreover, Qualibet is itself an ISO-accredited laboratory that Pinky put up 18 years ago. Through Qualibet, the chemist is able to help people know the quality of the water they drink, the food they eat and even the cosmetics they use. Such knowledge ensures that the food and water they ingest and the stuff they put on their bodies are safe for human use and consumption.
A member of the American Chemical Society, Qualibet also offers a consumer guide by providing shoppers with a shelf-life analysis on the micro-biological, chemical and mineral properties of the food they are to consume.
Thus, Qualibet, which stands for “Quality is Better,” has become, over the years, a trusted testing facility for safe food, pharmaceutical and veterinary products in the Philippines.
“Through Qualibet, it has been my dream to inspire other chemists all over the world,” Pinky said. “Through this new partnership with Bureau Veritas, this dream is now a reality. It’s now time to soar higher and pursue greater dreams with this new milestone in my life.”
What started as a Filipino chemist’s dream, the development has now become a global call leading and inspiring scientists all over the world. Pinky made the Philippines very proud as she is part of a global conglomerate giving the country a voice to be heard in the field of science and technology.
Pinky takes final bow as leader of Qualibet Testing Services
Through Pinky’s pioneering efforts, she also gave a the Filipino scientist a platform to amplify his or her points of view on the global stage.
The partnership required the rechristening of the company, which is now called Qualibet-BVAQ (Bureau Veritas Assure Quality), with BV owning 51 percent majority shares and Qualibet with 49 percent of the shares.
To date, Pinky has enviably made her mark in the male-dominated industry of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with her accomplishments in her field.
Present at the turnover ceremony were Joseph Homer Macapagal, chief country executive of Bureau Veritas Philippines; John Pan, group manager BVAQ Southeast Asia; Her Excellency Michelle Boccoz, French Ambassador to the Philippines; Pinky’s dad Julio Tobiano; husband Juan Carlos Robles; and daughters Pianne and Karrel Sinfuego.
Former Qualibet employee Markki Stroem hosted the event, while Erik Santos was the featured performer.
