Propel Manila taps AJ Marquez to lead growth as agency enters its 16th year

Philippine independent agency Propel Manila has named AJ Marquez (pictured) as managing director, tasking him with leading the agency's growth as it enters its 16th year.

Marquez will oversee the agency's operations, carrying forward Propel Manila's long-held belief that strong creative work drives business success.

He is no stranger to the agency. Having helped establish Propel Manila in its early years, he later left to broaden his experience before returning a decade ago. Since then, he has played a key role in strengthening the agency's talent, client partnerships and business, positioning him to lead its next phase of expansion.

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The leadership change also comes at a time when agencies are adapting to geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological disruption. Propel Manila said it is responding by maintaining dedicated leadership focused on growth while transforming the way it operates through automation, enabling its teams to devote more time to strategic thinking, creative judgement and the human expertise that technology cannot replicate.

JC Valenzuela, founder and CEO of Propel Manila, said Marquez's leadership reflects the agency's belief that growth is ultimately driven by the quality of its work and the people behind it.

"I've watched AJ build people, teams, and clients here for a decade. What makes him the right managing director is what he believes drives growth: the work first, and the people who make it. As we automate the repeatable work, we put more human judgment on our clients' business, not less, which means sharper thinking, faster, on the problems that move their brands. AJ leads with exactly that, and the number follows. I couldn't be more confident backing him," he said.

Marquez said his priority will be to foster an environment where creativity, digital expertise and culture continue to deliver value for both clients and the agency.

"As managing director, my focus is to help create the conditions for our teams to do their best work, for our clients to feel the value of that work, and for the agency to keep making excellence happen with clarity, courage, and purpose," he added.

Founded in 2010, Propel Manila is an affiliate of the global independent agency network Worldwide Partners and provides services spanning brand strategy, creative campaigns, digital and social solutions, and data and measurement.

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