BIZ BUZZ: Madrid to step down from IBPAP

MANILA, Philipines — Word on the street is that Jack Madrid, president and chief executive officer of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), is finally stepping down from the important post in October, after two extensions.

Question now is if IBPAP, the primary industry association and advocacy group of the country’s dynamic and resilient Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector, will elevate Celeste Ilagan, the current COO, or take in an external leader which the board has been searching for almost two years.

But whoever will take on the post certainly has work cut out for him or her, not only because Madrid is leaving large shoes to fill but also because the changing of the guard comes at a pivotal time for the industry.

The dollar-earning sector that has become one of the important growth pillars of the economy is confronted by challenges including competition from other countries, and the continuous advancement of artificial technology that has changed the nature of the industry.

But Biz Buzz sources expressed confidence that the eventual leader will be more than capable of steering IBPAP to greater heights and retaining its position as the most respected voice of the growing sector.

IBPAP has over 400 member-companies and six partner associations—the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., Global In-House Center Council Philippines, Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Software Industry Association—and represents the collective interests of the IT-BPM sector.As to who will eventually succeed Madrid? Abangan! INQ