Executive Team

Josemari Mercado - President and CEO

Josemari "Jomari" Mercado is the president and CEO of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), overseeing IBPAP's key initiatives in marketing the Philippines as a top global outsourcing destination, implementing talent development initiatives, and maintaining investor confidence in the country. Mercado has 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and consulting in the BPM, finance, insurance, and telecommunications industries both in the Philippines and across the ASEAN and South Asia region. He has been a member of the leadership team of Convergys Corporation in the Philippines over the past nine years. As head of business development at Convergys, Mercado played a key role in the company's rapid growth in the Philippines.

Benedict Hernandez - Chairman of the Executive Committee

Benedict Hernandez is the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP). He oversees the execution of the Board's strategic initiatives. He also serves as the Board's Trustee In-Charge of Talent Initiatives, overseeing strategy and execution of industry talent development, wellness, and retention programs. Hernandez was the president and chief executive officer of IBPAP from January 1, 2012 to March 15, 2013. He led the association in pursuing its Road Map 2016 vision of doubling the revenues of the IT-BPM industry to US$25-billion and creating 1.3 million additional jobs for Filipinos. Concurrently, he is also the operations lead for Accenture BPO Services Delivery in the Philippines and president of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP).

Gigi Virata -  Senior Executive Director, IBPAP

Gillian Joyce "Gigi" Virata is the Senior Executive Director of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and is responsible for the organization's research service line. She oversees the publication of annual industry statistics on talent posts, industry revenues, employment as well as the contributions of the industry to the economy. Her research team also manages the consolidation of Next Wave Cities' scorecard, annual report and the latest industry trends. Virata has worked under numerous reputable institutions such as World Bank, ADB, and the Ayala Corporation before joining the IBPAP team in 2010. She completed her BA in Philosophy in the University of the Philippines with Latin honors, an MA in Education from the Columbia and a Master's degree in International Policy and Practice from George Washington University.

Penny Bongato - Executive Director for Talent Development, IBPAP

Penny Bongato has more than 25 years of work experience, 15 years of which have been focused on human resource management. As talent development director at IBPAP, she manages all talent-related initiatives for the Roadmap 2016, including implementing the current portfolio of initiatives, working with stakeholders to refresh the portfolio, anchoring the talent working group, and launching and monitoring the Talent Partnerships program.

Genny Marcial - Executive Director for External Affairs, IBPAP

As IBPAP's Executive Director for External Affairs, Marcial heads the industry association's Legislative Committee, a dynamic group of more than 40 lawyers, government relations, and external affairs experts who aim to ensure the continuance of an attractive business environment for the country's flourishing IT-BPM industry through a predictable legislative and policymaking agenda. She also handles media relations, PR and crisis communications for IBPAP. Prior to IBPAP, Marcial was senior manager for External Affairs of Sutherland Global Services Philippines. With years of experience in marketing communications and media relations in top hotels in the Philippines and in the region, as well as in advertising and the retail industry, Marcial has led numerous publicity campaigns and events in organizations including the Araneta Group of Companies, Swiss-Belhotel International in Jakarta, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, and The Linden Suites.

Ronald Arambulo - Executive Director for Finance and Project Management Office, IBPAP

Ronald Arambulo has over 15 years experience in the IT-BPM Industry in general management, finance and operations roles. He assumes leadership for two offices under IBPAP—Finance and Project Management Operations (PMO). As executive director for finance, his key role is to manage IBPAP's finance functions and ensure that it supports the fast-growing needs of the organization in terms of compliance, risk management, and decision support. Concurrently, as head of PMO, he is responsible for planning, organizing, mobilizing and implementing the various development projects of IBPAP with its members, the academe, the government and other multilateral agencies.

Nathan Andaya - Executive Director for Human Resources, IBPAP

As the executive director for Human Resources, Nathan Andaya assumes the lead role of creating HR agenda for both IBPAP and its partner associations. His responsibility focuses on legislation pertaining to the IT-BPM industry, and interfacing with the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure compliance to labor laws. Among his priorities as head for IBPAP's Human Resources department is to consolidate programs that foster the retention, engagement, and wellness of employees. He aims to support the promotion of attractive opportunities in the IT-BPM industry among Filipinos.

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