For many executives, the GESG experience began as a turning point: a phone call that sparked possibilities, a dialogue that reshaped their aspirations, or a recruitment process that felt markedly different from anything they had known. In these stories, GESG emerges not only as a search firm, but as a steward of leadership journeys.
Banjo Castillo, now Chief Operating Officer of Isla Petroleum and Gas Corporation, recalls how his first engagement with GESG immediately stood out. “They asked about my career, my aspirations, and where I envisioned myself in the future. That showed genuine concern for the individual, not just the transaction,” he said. Unlike traditional headhunting, Castillo found GESG’s approach anchored on alignment—not pitching talent to companies, but reflecting deeply on whether the role would move the candidate forward in a meaningful way.
For Fred Ong, Chief Operating Officer of Fly Ace Corporation, that authenticity was the difference-maker. “Our conversations never felt transactional,” he said. “It was a genuine dialogue about purpose, values, and long-term vision.” Ong credits GESG with creating matches that go beyond expertise—pairings rooted in shared motivation and mission. It is this ability, he said, that sets GESG apart in a competitive leadership landscape.
This impact extends beyond the leaders themselves. At CDO Foodsphere, Inc., Vice President for Corporate Human Resources and Administration John Jay Romero traced his long-standing partnership with GESG back to his own placement.
“They understood the questions an HR head would ask—what value I bring, what challenges lie ahead, why the role exists,” he shared. That clarity and foresight later led Romero to turn to GESG for more placements, trusting its ability to bridge the gap between talent and organizational direction. “It was the first time I engaged with them, but it certainly was not the last.”
Cebu Pacific’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Felix Dan Lopez, has seen this consistency through multiple leadership transitions. To him, GESG’s defining trait is simple but powerful: intentionality. “They have consistently gone beyond filling roles,” Lopez said.
“They help shape leadership strategy. They challenge us to think differently. They bring insights that go far deeper than the recruitment process.” For Lopez, GESG’s strength lies in marrying strategic rigor with an intuitive grasp of culture, talent behavior, and long-term business needs.
Across industries, HR leaders echo this sentiment. For Nympha Genio, Human Resources Director of Getz Healthcare Philippines, GESG’s value lies in its empathy and deep listening. Having worked with various search partners, she found GESG’s method to be uniquely grounded in understanding both the organization and the individual. “Even when I move across industries, their approach stays consistent,” Genio said. “They take time to understand our culture, our work, and the kind of leaders who will thrive. That alignment is their biggest strength.”
These stories share a common thread: when leadership recruitment is intentional, it does more than fill gaps. It strengthens companies, sharpens organizational DNA, sustains industries, and contributes to the country’s development. GESG’s role has never been about transactions—it has been about shaping leadership ecosystems that endure.
As GESG marks its 20th year, the celebration is more than a milestone. It is a tribute to the executives who embraced new challenges, to the HR partners who trusted GESG with their most consequential decisions, and to the organizations that opened their doors to transformation through people.
GESG President and CEO Ray Canilao reflects on this moment with deep gratitude. “Twenty years of GESG is a celebration of trust,” he said. “Trust from our clients, trust from our candidates, and trust in the belief that leadership matters. The leaders we’ve placed have become part of our story, and we are proud of the impact they continue to make. Our commitment to stewarding leadership excellence will only deepen in the years ahead.”
His words capture the true essence of GESG at 20: a company built not just on placements, but on relationships, purpose, and the enduring belief that great leadership changes everything.