Tag: Philippines

Manila, Philippines – Global technology company SHAREit has announced its appointment of Chay Mondejar-Saputil as country director for the Philippines.

In line with SHAREit’s growing expansion within the ASEAN region, her appointment seeks to shore up the various offerings and business solutions that the company has to offer within the region.

Prior to her appointment, Mondejar-Saputil has more than a decade of knowledge and experience within the industry, having previously been the vertical lead of the ecommerce and retail side of Meta. While in this role, she has been responsible for managing the team across a mixed portfolio of businesses covering multiple industries, as well as driving product development to include the needs of omnichannel retailers in Southeast Asia.

Apart from the aforementioned roles, she was also the primary external representative of Meta and board member at IMMAP (Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines) – the premier organisation for influencing local industry policies on digital marketing, while also being the primary representative at the Philippine Retailers Association.

Karam Malhotra, partner & VP at SHAREit Group, said, “We are extremely excited to announce the appointment of Chay as the Country Director of Philippines, as we continue to expand our offerings into the various ASEAN markets to meet the growing demand from enterprises.”

“Ranging across our full suite of services, from consumer facing technological solutions to addressing the various needs of businesses and enterprises across the region, we believe that Chay will help grow the Philippines market substantially as the country continues to develop their technology infrastructure,” he added. 

Speaking on her appointment, Mondejar-Saputil commented, “In this new role, our goal is to expand the multitude of services and solutions SHAREit brings together with Xtend, to help bolster our portfolio of services within the Philippines and the ASEAN region as a whole. We are aiming for remarkable growth in the Philippines market as we seize the opportunities presented by the region’s dynamic business environment.”

Notably, SHAREit’s expansion will be featuring its new brand arm called Xtend, which is a game-changing digital advertising optimization solution dedicated to pioneering Android campaigns.

Manila, Philippines – Malaysian retail specialist Valiram Group is currently looking at expanding its operations in the Philippines by developing airport outlets for duty-free retail tourism.

Meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Singapore, Valiram Group expressed their interest in expanding in the next five years with the Philippines on their list.

In this plan, Valiram’s development priorities include having duty-free access at the airports, with the company building more airport walk-through stores personalised to provide customers with a pleasant shopping experience.

Valiram aims to elevate customer experience in the Philippines, especially by giving them more space at the nation’s gateways, removing the stress and hassles of security checks.This initiative is also in line with Valiram’s interest to grow the local presence with their affiliated international brands through these Philippine outlets. 

Expressing the group’s interest, a Valiram official said, “We are looking to bring the success that we have in Southeast Asia, outside the Philippines, and into the Philippines. You know, we now have a net worth of over 500 stores. And some brands are not yet represented in the Philippines and so we’ve been working hard and with everyone’s support and guidance, we’re looking forward to expanding very quickly.”

The President acknowledged that retail business is a significant part of today’s economy and in the case of Valiram, of the tourism industry.

“It’s an important sector of the economy. It’s what’s driving the economy now, it’s consumer spending. I always say this: not all Filipinos are Ilocanos. Ilocanos don’t spend,” Marcos said jokingly.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez expressed his support for the President’s thrust to encourage more investors to come to the Philippines, noting that Congress is focusing on crafting legislation or laws that govern the treatment and the appreciation of foreign investments into the country.

In the President’s business meetings with Dyson Group and the Valiram Group, Romualdez mentioned that Marcos welcomes and supports all of these initiatives.

Manila, Philippines – Multinational technology company Dyson has announced that its pledging ₱11b investment to the Philippines by 2024. This comes after several Dyson officials met with Philippine government officials, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The president has expressed his delight following Dyson’s investment commitment, stating that the company has made the right decision in choosing the country for their investments.

Meanwhile, Roland Krueger, chief executive officer at Dyson, commented, “Three, four months ago, we made a decision that we want to further our investment to the Philippines with expanding our presence there and today we only have a factory producing our own electrical motors.”

He added, “So we have announced a significant investment equivalent of PhP11-billion into the new factory, the new R&D center, and we want to expand also in terms of staff, software, and others that we require over the next two years.”

Dyson also emphasised that their investment would generate around 1,250 employees and would move more contract manufacturing into the Philippines by the middle of 2022, or the second or third quarter of the year.

It is worth noting that Dyson previously announced the intended launch of its Philippines Technology Centre, amounting to ₱11b in investment, and will be located in City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas; scheduled to be operational by the first half of 2024.

With this, Dyson R&D (research and development) teams in the Philippines will be focused on software, AI, robotics, fluid dynamics and hardware electronics, according to the company.

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has officially approved the proposed merger of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Robinsons Bank, a commercial bank owned by local conglomerate JG Summit Holdings. Through the proposed merger, BPI will be the existing entity.

According to recent stock filings made by BPI, JG Summit Holdings, and Robinsons Retail Holdings, all received approval from the PCC from September 13 to 14.

Following this, the companies are now seeking approval from the central bank Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), as well as from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). With this, no fixed time frame for the acquisition has been announced, as it is still subject to regulatory approval.

Discussion about the proposed merger first began in September 2022 when the board of directors of the three companies involved approved the proposed merger, with grants Robinsons Bank shareholders collectively holding approximately 6% of the resulting outstanding capital stock of BPI should the merger go through.

The announcement adds to a series of proposed and completed bank mergers in the country, including the acquisition of Citi’s local consumer banking business by UnionBank, as well as the proposed merger of the country’s two state banks–LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

Manila, Philippines – Global content and commerce company Gushcloud has appointed Joseph Max Webb as its head of business development in the Philippines, as well as its de facto local leader of the local operations for the company.

In his capacity, Webb will oversee brand deals, integrated marketing campaigns, social media, and account management.

He has recently sealed and launched a campaign with local pharmaceutical company Unilab, most notably the Tuseran “Beat the Pro” web series featuring comedy icon Ruffa Mae Quinto. He also led Spotify Philippines’s recent musical activation in collaboration with Spotify and global KPop girl group NewJeans.

Prior to his appointment, Webb served as Gushcloud’s global business development manager for two years. During his time, he won the agency pitch for Tencent, a multinational technology, entertainment, and holding company based in China. 

He also brokered a partnership with Hip Hop icon and legend Snoop Dogg with Novelship, Singapore’s leading sneaker marketplace. Furthermore, he locked in Korean online fashion platform MUSINSA which tapped Gushcloud as a digital partner in Southeast Asia.

Speaking on his new role, Webb said, “This is an immense responsibility but I am prepared to take it on. I’m grateful for the support I get from my team and our regional colleagues, and the trust of our new and long-term clients. This is only the start of bigger milestones for Gushcloud Philippines.”

Meanwhile, Oddie Randa, regional director for Asia-Pacific at Gushcloud, commented, “We are eager to finally introduce Max as our new leader in Gushcloud Philippines. We know that his youthful energy, dynamic work ethics, and network will turn things around for our Manila office.”

He added, “Of course, he can expect our commitment, support, and guidance to ensure that the Philippines is always in sync with the rest of the region, so we can truly make Gushcloud not just a regional but also a global leader in content, commerce, and entertainment.”

Lastly, Gay Carr, chief people pfficer at Gushcloud International, said, “I am absolutely certain that Max will excel in his leadership post. He possesses the crucial integrity of character required for the role, coupled with high competence, a strong drive for performance, and a natural ability to connect with others while genuinely caring for their wellbeing. His primary focus is not on self-promotion, but rather on enhancing the team’s performance for the greater good of the organisation.”

Manila, Philippines – Acer Philippines recently launched their Acer Day #MakeYourGreenMark campaign in line with their 20th anniversary, aiming to amplify the brand’s message of Acer’s commitment to a more sustainable future to millions across the globe.

The campaign’s unique call to action helped boost Acer Philippines’ sustainability message through a combination of innovative promotions, CSR partnerships, and event entertainment. Notably, Acer Philippines also released their #AceYourWorld original song and music video featuring brand ambassadors Sarah Geronimo and SB19 as part of the campaign.

For the campaign, Acer Philippines mainly staged a ‘Green Mark’ concert featuring a line-up of famous Filipino artists, and fans earned tickets through green initiatives such as donations to The Green Earth Heritage Foundation and plastic contributions to The Plastic Flamingo. 

The concert was attended by 15,000 on-ground and online fans and reached over 714 million people worldwide. More importantly, the campaign raised funds amounting to over million pesos, which will be used to plant 5,401 trees to help in forest rehabilitation efforts and a donation of over 20 metric tons of plastic to be transformed into a range of sustainable construction materials.

MARKETECH APAC also reached out to Princess Laosantos, senior marketing manager at Acer Philippines, to shed more light on Acer Philippines’ sustainability efforts. 

When asked about the reason as to why Acer Philippines went for a concert initiative as a sustainability platform, Laosantos said that it was mainly because music speaks to all ages, which makes the initiative relevant and relatable.

“Our target audience is young, so we wanted to be relevant and relatable to them. What better way to do that than through music? Music is a universal language that speaks to people of all ages, and we wanted to convey our messages in a language understood by many,” she told MARKETECH APAC. 

It is also worth mentioning that prior to this concert initiative, Acer Philippines had already launched key efforts when it comes to sustainability through previous projects and their product lineup. 

“In 2021, we introduced the ‘Earthion (Earth Mission) Project’, which strives to be more sustainable by using recyclable materials and more sustainable processes to engage an ecosystem where our suppliers follow suit. We have also launched the Acer ‘Vero’ line, a range of products made from  20-30% post-consumer plastics in our computers, displays, accessories, and home appliances. We have also pledged to use 100% renewable energy by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,”she said.  

She also added, “We are very proud of the efforts that our employees, partners, and customers have made so far for the planet. We hope that they all continue to be responsible citizens for the environment. We also hope that they spread the word about what Acer is doing. We always say that sustainability is in Acer’s DNA. Sustainability is also the driving force for the future.”

Philippines – Outbrain, an open-source technology platform, has recently announced a new partnership with Summit Media, a local digital lifestyle media network. Outbrain’s continued leadership in providing product offerings, platform capabilities, and service is shown by this three-year contract.

The partnership creates more opportunities for advertisers to connect with targeted consumer audiences by extending Outbrain’s AI-driven customisation across Summit Media’s premium digital properties, which include platforms like PEP.ph, Cosmo.PH, Smart Parenting PH, and Esquire PH.

A diverse and engaged audience can be reached by advertisers by exclusively featuring Summit Media on the Outbrain network. An individualised user experience is promoted by Outbrain’s platform, which not only improves brand visibility but also incorporates content recommendations from advertisers.

Speaking about the partnership, Eve Solomon, managing director of publisher business development for JAPAC at Outbrain, commented, “Summit Media’s choice to once again partner with Outbrain after a brief stint with another advertising platform brings us great joy and is a clear indication of Outbrain’s unmatched ability to deliver outstanding results for our publishers and advertisers.” 

She added, “With Summit Media’s extensive network of websites, advertisers gain access to a broad and engaged audience, elevating the reach and impact of their campaigns. We look forward to empowering more advertisers to leverage the potential of native advertising and reach their target audiences effectively.”

Meanwhile, Monette De Leon, head of programmatic sales at Summit Media, said, “Outbrain’s platform empowers us to deliver relevant and engaging content to our readers seamlessly. We are confident that this new partnership will further elevate the user experience on our sites and enable us to attract more advertisers to run campaigns with us through Outbrain.”

Manila, Philippines – Ayala Land has welcomed Anna Ma. Margarita B. Dy as its new chief executive officer, the first female leader to hold such position in the company. She replaces Bernard Vincent O. Dy, who retires from the company after 26 years in the company — nine of which dedicated as the company’s president and CEO.

In a letter sent to employees by Ayala Land Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, he expressed his trust and high confidence in the company’s newly appointed chief.

“Meean’s extensive experience encompasses pivotal leadership roles within the Strategic Landbank Management Group. She played a key role in launching critical projects in our portfolio, such as BGC, Nuvali, Vertis, and Arca South. Her journey continued as she led the Residential Business Group and, more recently, assumed leadership over the Malls, Offices, and the Hotels and Resorts Group,” he said.

Zobel added, “With Meean at the helm, I am confident that Ayala Land will continue to have meaningful impact in all the lives and communities we touch.”

As Ayala practices deliberate and effective succession planning across its business units, next-generation leaders are given exposure to the entire Ayala ecosystem. Upon her appointment as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the company, Meean had since been included in the regular meetings of the Ayala Group Management Committee and involved in key decisions concerning the entire ecosystem.

Zobel also expressed his gratitude to Bobby for the service he has dones, saying, “During the pandemic years, Bobby guaranteed the health and safety of our employees, and supported our merchants, suppliers and the local communities we operated in. He was at the forefront of our sustainability initiatives as he boldly implemented a 5-year plan to achieve carbon neutrality for our commercial properties, which we achieved 1 year ahead of the target.”

Manila, Philippines – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and smartphone brand vivo have signed a multi-year marketing partnership in the Philippines, which also includes vivo returning as the official smartphone partner of the NBA in the country.

The agreement builds on a previous marketing partnership in the Philippines that saw vivo serve as an official partner of the Jr. NBA – the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls – and NBA 3X Philippines, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament featuring men’s and women’s teams, interactive fan activities and authentic NBA entertainment.

Through the collaboration, vivo will be the presenting partner in the Philippines of the ‘NBA All-Star Voting’, a platform that gives fans the opportunity to vote for the NBA All-Star Game starters via the NBA App and NBA.com; as well as return as an official partner of NBA 3X Philippines presented by Mountain Dew, which will take place later this year.  

In addition, vivo will launch promotions that will provide fans in the Philippines with the chance to win authentic NBA prizes. The NBA and vivo will also co-develop content for the NBA’s localised Facebook and TikTok pages in the Philippines.

“Our passion for innovation extends beyond the confines of technology, and we recognize that sports provide an ideal platform to bring communities together and inspire positive change in the way we live our lives. This guiding principle reinforces our efforts to collaborate with sports organizations such as the NBA that enable us to foster a deeper connection between our brand and the world of sports,” a statement from the vivo Philippines management was released.

Meanwhile, Mae Dichupa, senior director of global marketing partnerships at NBA Philippines, commented, “We’re thrilled to welcome vivo back to our growing roster of marketing partners in the Philippines and align with a brand that shares our commitment to innovation. Our collaboration with vivo represents an excellent opportunity to elevate the NBA experience across digital, retail and events, and showcase vivo’s smartphones as a convenient and ideal device for fans to immerse themselves in the excitement of the NBA.”

Manila, Philippines – Digital life insurer Singlife Philippines and personal finance marketplace Moneymax has announced their collaboration to make the first-ever Philippine mobile life insurance app through the launching of the ‘Singlife Plan & Protect’ app.

The app enables users to build an emergency fund with a high-interest account, access a guided financial planning tool, and buy customizable life insurance & investment products.

The newly formed partnership is the first of its kind for both digital platforms. For Moneymax, it marks the launch of its life insurance offering in addition to its travel and fire insurance pages, which were launched earlier this year. On the other hand, Singlife will be leveraging its platform to provide fuss-free financial solutions that in the past were only available through traditional means.

Commenting on the app launch, Rien Hermans, CEO of Singlife Philippines, said, “Unexpected life events—such as disability or even death of the family breadwinner, or serious illnesses within the family—can drain a lifetime’s worth of savings and even worse, confront families with a high, hard-to-pay-back debt.”

“For the Juans and Marias of today who work hard and plan to achieve their goals, we want to empower them—with the help of Moneymax—to take control of their hard-earned money. The Singlife Plan & Protect App can guide them through taking proactive steps to make sure they will always have money when they need it”, he added. 

Meanwhile, Prashant Aggarwal, CEO of MoneyHero Group, commented, “Through our strategic partnership with Singlife, we strengthen our commitment to expanding our offers and increasing awareness of digital insurance in the country. Moneymax and Singlife share the same mission of helping customers find financial products that best match their needs and budget, which is what this partnership is all about.”