BPAP elevates Hernandez to Chairman of the Executive Committee; Mercado appointed President and CEO

(Manila, Philippines, January 24, 2013) — The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) announced that the Board of Trustees has elevated Benedict Hernandez to Chairman of its Executive Committee. Jose Mari “Jomari” Mercado was appointed President and CEO.

Mercado will assume his new role effective March 16, 2012, and Hernandez will continue to act as President and CEO until the appointment takes effect.

Hernandez, who has served as President and CEO since January 1, 2012, will oversee the execution of the Board’s strategic initiatives. He will also serve as the Board’s Trustee In-Charge of Talent Initiatives and will oversee strategy and execution of industry talent development, wellness, and retention programs. Hernandez will continue to concurrently serve as President of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) and as Lead for Accenture’s BPO Service Delivery in the Philippines.

In 2012, the IT-BPO and GIC industry, under the leadership of Hernandez, saw significant milestones that helped the industry strengthen its position in the global outsourcing market. They include impressive growth in revenues and workforce, maintenance of  a supportive legislative and regulatory environment, strengthening of  government collaboration resulting in record government grants, enhancement of  career and industry marketing initiatives, and unprecedented deployment of talent development programs that will benefit over 100,000 scholars and students and 8,000 teachers and trainers when completed.

“I look forward to working closely with the board and Jomari to continue this work to ensure that the Philippines consistently and reliably provides an attractive talent pool for our fast-growing industry,” Hernandez said. “We have always competed on the basis of quality service delivery and high productivity. Our work to strengthen the talent pool and increase visibility of the industry within the Philippines is an important step in ensuring these attributes remain at the core of our value proposition.”

Mercado has 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and consulting in the BPO, finance, insurance, and telecommunications industries both in the Philippines and across the ASEAN and South Asia region. According to BPAP chairman Alfredo I. Ayala, Mercado’s background and experience make him ideally suited to lead the association in achieving the targets set out in the Industry Road Map 2016, particularly in the areas of strategic planning, industry and government relations, country and career marketing, and investor relations. Mercado has served as a member of the BPAP Board of Trustees since 2010.

“As the global market expands, BPAP’s role is to drive growth of the Philippine IT-BPO and GIC industry to achieve our target of becoming a US$25-billion industry providing direct employment to 1.3 million Filipinos by 2016,” said Mercado. “I look forward to helping make that goal a reality.”

Prior to BPAP, Mercado was associated with Coca-Cola and IBM-Philippines and IBM-ASEAN. 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. He has hosted over 500 clients and prospects, actively selling the Philippines and its capabilities. He was also responsible for external relations, dealing with both national and local governments, the academe and industry associations.

About the Business Processing Association of the Philippines
The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) is the enabling association for the IT-BPO and GIC (global in-house center) industry in the Philippines. BPAP serves as the one-stop information and advocacy gateway for the industry. With approximately 300 industry and support-industry members, including five associations—the Animation Council of the Philippines, Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Software Industry Association—BPAP plays a pivotal role in sustaining rapid growth of the IT-BPO and GIC industry by working to ensure an enduring supply of high quality labor, supporting service innovation, and providing country visibility.

BPAP assists investors in setting up operations easily and quickly in the Philippines. Relevant research, introductions to key government and industry officials, and a series of briefings at each step of the investment process ensure a seamless development process. On-going support is provided through a wide variety of initiatives, including programs for HR development, business development, and on-going knowledge sharing and networking opportunities.