MANILA, PHILIPPINES – AdSpark, a proudly local Marketing Advertising Technology (MADTECH) agency under Brave Connective Holdings Inc., announces the appointment of Jose Manuel “Manny” Fernando as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective September 1, 2025. With more than three decades of leadership experience spanning telecommunications, digital innovation, and marketing transformation, Manny brings a unique perspective that will help propel AdSpark into its next phase of growth.
Throughout his career, Manny has been recognized for his ability to connect technology with marketing in ways that create real business impact. His early work in telecommunications and mobile solutions gave him first-hand experience in how technology shapes consumer behavior, which later helped him introduce mobile marketing in the Philippines. That grounding became a strong advantage when he moved into agency leadership, where he applied the same mix of technological understanding and creativity to drive growth. At McCann Worldgroup Philippines, he helped lead marketing innovations that opened new revenue streams and prepared the agency for the digital future.
As Managing Partner of MRM//McCann Manila, he guided the agency to multiple Agency of the Year awards and built digital and social media practices that set new standards. He also supported the wider industry as a founding member and past president of DMAP (formerly IMMAP), helping to advance the practice of digital marketing in the country.
“AdSpark has always stood out as a proudly local independent agency that combines creativity, media, technology, and data to create real impact for brands,” said Manny. “I look forward to building on this strong foundation and helping AdSpark scale into the next generation of digital marketing leadership.”
Supporting him in this journey is John Louie Erestain, who continues to serve as Chief Operating Officer. “With Manny at the helm, we are well-positioned to strengthen our MADTECH capabilities and scale our impact for partners,” said Erestain. “Together with our talented team, we’re ready to elevate AdSpark into a true market leader.”
As part of Brave Connective Holdings Inc., AdSpark plays a pivotal role in advancing the goal to power the future of businesses, bringing brands closer to their customers through data, storytelling, messaging, and customer engagement. “We are thrilled to welcome Manny to the leadership family,” said Nikko Acosta, Group CEO & President of Brave Connective Holdings Inc. “His extensive experience in transformation and innovation aligns perfectly with our vision. With Manny’s leadership at AdSpark and JL’s continued operational excellence, we are confident that AdSpark will drive even greater value for brands and deepen synergies across our ecosystem with Inquiro, m360, and Rush.”
AdSpark, part of Globe’s Brave Connective Holdings, Inc., has expanded its MADtech ecosystem with the acquisitions of DeepSea and Secret Menu. The integration combines DeepSea’s expertise in programmatic advertising with Secret Menu’s creative production strengths, boosting AdSpark’s capability to deliver data-powered, end-to-end marketing solutions.
