MANILA, PHILIPPINES — DDB MNL, an award-winning creative agency under DDB Group Philippines, has officially appointed Bia Fernandez as its new Executive Creative Director.
This key appointment reflects DDB MNL’s commitment to bolstering its creative leadership and delivering campaigns that resonate on a global scale. A distinguished leader in the creative industry, Bia joins DDB MNL with a career spanning nearly two decades.
Her impressive portfolio includes over a hundred awards, with international accolades from prestigious platforms like Cannes Lions and One Show pencils. Known for consistently pushing creative boundaries, Bia has a proven track record in managing multinational and top local brands, delivering innovative campaigns that leave a lasting impact.
Before joining DDB MNL, Bia served as Group Creative Director at Publicis JimenezBasic, where she led creative teams in crafting compelling narratives for major brands like Globe and GCash. Her expertise extends back to her time at Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, where she spearheaded creative efforts for significant regional accounts like Safeguard and Pampers.
In 2015, she was recognized as one of the Top five Creative Directors in the Philippines. She believes in the transformative power of advertising to improve the world, a philosophy that perfectly aligns with DDB MNL’s vision.
Her appointment as Executive Creative Director at DDB MNL signals a bold move forward for the agency, which continues to elevate its creative output and set new industry benchmarks.
In addition to Bia’s appointment, DDB MNL has also brought on board Bernadette Canzana as Strategic Planning Director. Bernadette, with 12 years of experience in brand strategy, communications planning, and project management, returns to her roots in the agency world after five years on the client side.
Most recently, she served as Campaign and Communication Strategist at Globe Telecommunications, where she played a pivotal role in influencing strategies and campaigns from the early stages of product planning.
Before Globe, Bia was the Marketing Communications Manager for Samsung Home Appliances, overseeing the brand’s comprehensive 360° marketing strategies. Her journey in strategic planning began at DDB Philippines, where she handled communication strategies for over 15 brands. Her work at Publicis Manila included leading the brand portfolio management for Nescafe and Milo, driving significant market share growth and consumer engagement.
“This is a big strategic move for us, strengthening the leadership team to underscore our commitment to deliver campaigns that will drive significant business growth for our clients. I’m confident that this powerhouse team will definitely push the boundaries and drive DDB MNL to new heights,” said Vina Henson, Managing Director of DDB MNL.
With Bernadette and Bia on board, DDB MNL is expanding its leadership team and bringing in fresh perspectives that will elevate the agency’s creative and strategic output. Their combined experience and innovative approach are expected to set new benchmarks, ensuring that DDB MNL continues to deliver impactful and resonant campaigns for its clients.
