The Leaders Who Built the Legacy: GESG at 20 Through the Eyes of Its Placements

In leadership recruitment, the most meaningful stories are seldom told by the firms behind the work. They come from the leaders whose careers, decisions, and impact were shaped by the opportunities placed before them. As Global Executive Solutions Group (GESG) celebrates its 20th anniversary under the banner “Two Decades of Leadership, Trust, and Executive Excellence”, its legacy is perhaps best captured not in numbers or milestones, but in the voices of the people whose journeys it helped transform.

For many of these executives, the partnership with GESG began with a career-defining moment; a phone call, a conversation, or a search engagement that eventually reshaped their trajectories. What followed were years of leadership impact inside companies that make up the backbone of Philippine industries.

“When they engaged me, they asked about myself, how I looked at my career as of the present and how I see myself progressing my career into the future. I think that shows their interest and genuine concern for the talents themselves, more than the transaction of placing them,” said Banjo Castillo, Chief Operating Officer at Isla Petroleum and Gas Corporation. Even as a newer GESG placement, Castillo noted the difference in GESG’s approach from other search processes he’d experienced. “They’re not focused on selling the talent to the potential employer, rather how the role might fit into their career aspirations.”

Meanwhile for Fred Ong, Fly Ace Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer and one of GESG’s most prominent placements, what stood out the most was GESG’s candor and deeply consultative nature when it came to his placement. “Our conversations about job opportunities were never transactional. It felt genuine, like a genuine dialogue about purpose, values, and long-term vision,” he shared. “They have an ability to connect the dots and match the motivation and even mission of individuals and the company that they presented.”

In highly competitive sectors, leadership choices can shape entire value chains and create a ripple effect. For John Jay Romero, Vice President of Corporate Human Resources and Administration Department at CDO Foodsphere, Inc., it started with his own placement through GESG, and led to a partnership for more leaders down the line. “As a leader, they anticipated the questions that an HR head would look for. What’s my value to the organization, what are the challenges, why are they looking and what’s the history behind the position? These are important points that they were able to explain to me.”

“It was the first time I’d ever engaged with them, but it certainly was not the last, because they are our recruitment partner now. They truly are able to bridge the match,” Romero added.
 
This model is just as evident among GESG’s HR partners, organizations who have found key leaders through GESG. Cebu Pacific’s current Chief Human Resources Offer, Felix Dan Lopez, has worked closely with GESG through multiple transitions, mirroring GESG’s strength in sustaining partnerships built on trust, candor, and an understanding of leadership DNA.

“If I had to describe GESG in one word, it would be intentional,” Lopez said. “Over the years they have consistently gone beyond simply filling roles. They actively help shape our leadership strategy, provide deep market insights, and challenge us to think differently about talent and organizational priorities. Their approach combines strategic rigor with a nuanced understanding of culture, business dynamics, and long-term impacts.”
 
This sentiment echoes across industries. Nympha Genio, Human Resources Director of Getz Healthcare Philippines, had worked with several search partners in the past, but found GESG’s approach uniquely anchored in empathy and alignment. For her, the experience reaffirmed the idea that behind every strong leadership team is a partner who understands both the company and the individual at a deeper level.

“It’s been very easy. Even if I transition to different industries, the approach of GESG remains the same in such a way that they make a good effort to know the culture of the companies I am part of, the nature of business, and the kind of talents that we are looking for,” she said. “Their approach never really changed because I feel like one of their strengths is really getting to know what the company offers and what talents should fit with that kind of company.”
 
These stories reveal a common thread: leadership recruitment, when done with intention, transforms more than careers. It strengthens industries, fuels organizational resilience, and contributes to the broader ecosystem of nation-building. Such outcomes are not accidental; they are built from years of understanding what makes leaders thrive, what organizations truly need, and how talent can bridge the future.
 
As GESG marks its 20th year, the celebration is not simply about longevity. It is about honoring two decades of shared journeys—the executives who said yes to new challenges, the HR partners who trusted GESG with their most crucial leadership decisions, and the companies that opened their doors to transformation through people.
 
GESG President and CEO Ray Canilao reflects on this milestone with humility and gratitude. “Twenty years of GESG is really a celebration of trust. Trust from our clients, trust from our candidates, and trust in the shared belief that leadership matters,” he said. “The leaders we’ve placed over the years have become part of our story, and we are proud of the impact they continue to make. Our role has always been to guide, to align, and to steward leadership excellence, and that commitment will only deepen in the years ahead.”
 
His message captures the essence of what the anniversary represents: a reaffirmation of GESG’s role in helping shape leaders who, in turn, shape their organizations and the country’s future.