MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Creative agency VML Manila has energized its Creative team with a key promotion and a key addition. Maan Bautista has been elevated to the role of Executive Creative Director overseeing several brands across the agency.
Maan began as a copywriter at JWT Manila back in 2005 and was a key contributor in most of the agency’s wins during this period. She moved to McCann Worldgroup in 2016 and was instrumental in turning the agency into one of the most awarded agencies in the country. In 2020, she returned to Wunderman Thompson (now VML Manila) where she has continued her winning ways while inspiring a whole new generation of young creatives under her watch.
“Maan has built a career on always fighting for the best idea in the room,” assessed VML Manila Chief Creative Officer Joe Dy. “She is a special kind of creative leader, in that she combines a sharp strategic intelligence, a precise understanding of the client’s business with award-winning level creative excellence to push the work forward. Her impact as a leader is already being felt by the office.”
Also joining the company late last year is multi-awarded Creative Director Fran Palines, who joins the company from BBDO Guerrero and had previously been with NuWorks and McCann Worldgroup.
“Having worked with Fran at McCann,” shared Joe, “I have witnessed firsthand how adept she is at elevating the thinking and creative standards of every brand she takes on. We trust that she will continue her dedication to creative bravery and excellence as part of the VML family. We consider ourselves quite fortunate to have her on board.”
Among the most awarded creatives of their generation locally, Maan and Fran each have a couple of Cannes Lions under their respective belts, on top of numerous metals at CLIO, LIA, ONE SHOW, NY FESTIVALS, APAC EFFIES, ADFEST, and SPIKES ASIA. They have also consistently won at Kidlat, Tambuli, Boomerang, and several other local shows just to name a few.
