MANILA – Marking the start of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As), 4As has inducted the new Board of Directors and officers during the organization’s first general membership meeting of the year held at the Palm Grove of the Rockwell Club in Makati.
“This milestone comes at a time when the industry is faced with unprecedented opportunities and challenges primarily posed by the growing influence of the internet in the daily lives of consumers. This led the 4As to approach this year with the theme: Regroup, Redefine and Reclaim,” said 4As in a press release.
Here are the 2017 Board of Directors:
Norman Agatep
Managing Director & COO, Grupo Agatep, Chairman
Portia Catuira
Managing Director, TBWA\Santiago Mangada Puno, President
Sue Ann Nolido
VP-Account Management Director, Leo Burnett Manila, Vice President
Edg Samson
Client Services Director, Ace-Saatchi & Saatchi, Board Secretary
Tats Cruz
Senior Executive Officer, Publicis Jimenezbasic, Treasurer
Teeny Gonzales
Chief Executive Officer, Seven A.D., Corporate Comptroller
Bong Pacia
Chief Operating Officer, McCann Worldgroup, Director
Miguel Mercado
Managing Director, Ogilvy & Mather Phils., Director
Eres Aspi
VP-Client Services Director, Campaigns & Grey, Director
The induction ceremonies was officiated by Skycable’s COO March Ventosa. Yoly Villanueva-Ong of Campaigns and Grey, also a 4As chairperson in 2006, reminded the organization in her speech that content is still king, and encouraged the members of the 4As to create wider alliances.
“When there is change, you either create the change yourself or you let the change work for you because that’s the DNA of this industry,” said Ong.
Ong also stressed the need for the industry to stay together, adding another ‘R’–’repurpose’–to this year’s theme. “All of us have bottom line requirements but there is a greater calling—all of us want to do something good.”
“Because the arena we once played in is now an open field, everyone is free to invade, dominate and eventually steal. We belong to different agencies but we have to protect our turf and we have to be a team,” added 4As President Portia Catuira.
4As Chairman, Norman Agatep may be leading a 40-year-old organization but Agatep believes that great things are yet to come. “So as we approach our own midlife crisis this year, we do so together as team 4As, with full knowledge of who we are as an association, and with full confidence that while our lives will never be the same, we will remain forever young. And yes, we shall aim to go about this business, happy and dancing,” he said.
The 4As is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of various advertising agencies whose common objective is the promotion of and development of the advertising agency business in conjunction with the advertising industry’s goals.
