CITATION
Prior to joining ABS-CBN, Donald served as Chief Innovation Officer of McCann Worldgroup Philippines, one of the country's largest advertising agency, and Managing Director of the digital arm of McCann, MRM Manila, 2011 4As Agency of the Year for Digital Excellence and Campaign Southeast Asia Philippine Digital Agency of the Year. Before McCann, he was President and CEO of Yehey! Corporation, one of the Philippines' top digital marketing company, and concurrent President and CEO of Media Contacts Manila, a product of a joint venture company between Yehey Corporation and Europe's largest interactive conglomerate, Havas Digital.
Donald is a product of the management program of Ateneo De Manila University. He finished his MBA with distinction from Murdoch University and earned his Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, graduating with a GPA of 3.9. He also managed to earn diplomas in Interior Decorating, Executive Management, and Hotel and Restaurant Management. Finally, he took up Pelmanism from the Pelman Institute in Sydney, Australia.
Considered one of the founding fathers of digital marketing in the Philippines, Donald has been awarded the Digital Marketer of the Year at the Asian Leadership Awards in Dubai, UAE by the Asian Confederation of Business, the first recipient of the Digital Leader of the Future award conferred at the World Brand Congress in Mumbai, India, the Young Market Masters Award in Online Marketing by Mansmith and Fielders, and an honorary Certified eMarketing Consultant title by the eMarketing Standards Board of Australia.
Donald is the youngest marketing professional to serve as President of the Philippine Marketing Association and the first Filipino in the roster of the Speakers Bureau of IABC. He is also one of the first in the Philippines to be awarded the Certified Entrepreneur title by the Canadian Institute of Entrepreneurship and the first recipient of the SPi Global Young Leadership Award in the Asia CEO Awards. The list of commendations and recognition goes on. The Jose Rizal University awarded Donald the Dr. Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr. Professorial Chair in Marketing, the CEO Excel Award by the International Association of Business Communicators, and a Most Outstanding GSB Professor award by the San Beda College.
Aside from his full time job now with ABS-CBN, he does management consulting for up and coming brands and teaches digital marketing at the undergraduate program of the University of Asia and the Pacific, graduate schools of De La Salle University, San Beda College, and Bradford University (UK).
Amidst his busy schedule, Donald spares time to share his knowledge. He is the most active digital speaker in nationwide conferences encompassing several industries, with local speakerships averaging 5 a month and influencing at least 1,000 Filipinos. He also takes centerstage in the international digital marketing arena- with speaking engagements of at least 4 every year.
Finally, Donald sits as a board of Governor of the Management Association of the Philippines, a board of Trustee of Operation Smile, a non-profit, volunteer service organization that provides free reconstructive facial surgery for children and young adults with cleft lips, and a past board of director of the Manila Junior Chamber.