Insider Spotlight
• Intentional leadership recruitment is reshaping how Philippine industries grow
• Executives say GESG’s approach builds stronger companies, not just filled roles
• HR leaders highlight trust, candor, and cultural alignment as drivers of change
As the firm marks its 20th anniversary, executives and HR partners say the impact of deliberate, purpose-driven leadership hiring stretches far beyond individual careers—it is helping reshape entire industries.
Why it matters
Traditional recruitment often stops at matching skills to job descriptions. GESG’s placements reveal what happens when leadership search focuses instead on aspirations, cultural alignment, and organizational purpose.
In a press release on Nov. 28, 2025, Banjo Castillo, chief operating officer at Isla Petroleum and Gas Corp., said the firm’s approach stood out because it centered on the person, not just the placement.
“They’re not focused on selling the talent to the potential employer, rather how the role might fit into their career aspirations.”
The big picture
Executives describe intentional recruitment as catalytic because the right leaders influence more than their immediate teams—they reshape organizational strategies and strengthen entire value chains.
Fred Ong, chief operating officer at Fly Ace Corp., said the process was anchored on genuine dialogue. “Our conversations about job opportunities were never transactional. It felt genuine, like a genuine dialogue about purpose, values, and long-term vision.”
Zoom in
For HR leaders, the depth and strategic clarity that come with intentional search create long-term organizational advantages.
John Jay Romero of CDO Foodsphere noted that GESG addressed unspoken but critical leadership questions such as role purpose, organizational value, and context. The experience turned into an ongoing partnership. “They truly are able to bridge the match.”
Across industries, this alignment-driven method sustains trust. Cebu Pacific’s chief human resources officer Felix Dan Lopez captures it plainly: “If I had to describe GESG in one word, it would be intentional.”
What’s next
Intentional recruitment is increasingly viewed not just as a hiring strategy but as a business imperative. Leaders say it strengthens succession pipelines, deepens culture, and fuels sector-wide resilience.
GESG president and CEO Ray Canilao frames the firm’s two decades of work around one value: trust. “Our role has always been to guide, to align, and to steward leadership excellence.” —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
