MANILA, PHILIPPINES – DDB Group Philippines, a leading integrated marketing communications group, seamlessly pivoted its operations at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to adapt to the new normal and continue to deliver impactful results for its clients’ business and the communities.
This enabled the agency group to experience unprecedented growth in the past two years, while prioritizing the health and safety of its employees.
One of its leaders who played a key role in this success was Group Chief Financial Officer Judd B. Balayan, who made sure the DDB group of companies practiced prudent financial management while doing good business, winning new accounts, and taking care of its people.
As the DDB Group prepares to further drive growth opportunities, and in recognition of Balayan’s remarkable past and present contributions, he has been promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), and will remain as the agency group’s CFO.
Balayan, as the new Group COO, will lead operations across the Group’s diverse business units – focusing every waking hour on the first two fundamental P’s (People and Product), as he believes that this strategy is the best route to constantly achieving sustainable Profit while following DDB’s core values of Creativity and Humanity.
As concurrent CFO, he will continue to play a central role in directing the company’s financial goals as well as DDB Group’s M&A activity.
DDB Group Philippines Chairman and CEO Gil G. Chua said that Balayan has always shown great passion and dedication in achieving the agency group’s goals.
“There are many challenges ahead and we at DDB Execom will work hand in hand with Judd in leading our people in delivering ‘Unexpected Works’ and the most important results for our clients, our people, and the society,” said Chua.
Balayan said that over the past two years, in the midst of a life-changing pandemic, he’s proud that he was able to lead the Group’s remarkable finance team in thoughtfully navigating through and around seemingly endless business challenges.
“The Return on Intelligence (ROI) is clearly evident as we’re all healthier and wealthier for our directed diligence. With a view to our future, it is indeed a privilege to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer. I’m so looking forward to engaging, elevating and energizing our people – encouraging them to do the work of their lives at DDB Group Philippines,” he said.
As a seasoned C-suite executive, Balayan has an elevated growth mindset, and thus believes that people can be developed through hard, thoughtfully led work, supported by visionary strategies, and delivered by energetic teams. All these lead to elevated levels of staff engagement, empowerment, collaboration and innovation.
A Certified Public Accountant with a master’s degree in Business Administration, Balayan has over three decades of wisdom – the winning combination of knowledge and experience – in finance and operations, half of which is with DDB Group Philippines.
Notably, DDB Group Philippines comprises the following companies that provide creative business solutions to clients’ needs: advertising agencies DDB PHL and DDB MNL; digital Total Experience™ agency Tribal Worldwide Philippines; integrated PR solutions firm Ripple8; media agencies Touch XDA and Optimax; data analytics firm Agile Intelligence; and branded entertainment content firm Bent & Buzz.
