Ayala Corporation has subsidiaries and affiliates in real estate development, telecommunications, banking and financial services, electronics manufacturing, water distribution, automotive dealerships, business process outsourcing and overseas real estate investments.

Apart from his responsibilities on the boards of the Ayala Group companies, Mr Zobel is a member of various international and local business and socio-civic organizations, including the JP Morgan International Council and Mitsubishi Corporation International Advisory Committee. He is also Chairman of the Harvard Business School Asia-Pacific Advisory Board, a member of the Harvard Global Advisory Council, Chairman Emeritus of the Asia Business Council, Chairman of the World Wildlife Fund Philippine Advisory Council, a member of board of trustees of Endeavor Philippines and the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is also the Philippine Representative to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council.

In 2007, he received the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award, the school's highest recognition. Mr Zobel is a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Merit, awarded by the President of the Republic of the Philippines for enhancing the prestige and honor of the Republic of the Philippines both at home and abroad. Subsequently, Mr Zobel was bestowed the Philippine Legion of Honor, with rank of Grand Commander, by the President of the Republic of the Philippines in recognition of his outstanding public service to the Republic.

Mr Zobel studied at Harvard University where he earned his BA in Economics (with honors) in 1981 and his MBA in 1987.