Havas Ortega Responds to the Call of Digital Transformation and the Innovation Mindset - Jason Drilon to Lead Build and Innovation Team

As the marketing landscape continues to change in the face of new trends and technologies, digital transformation emerges as an essential response to this change. The biggest companies in the country are shaping their acquisitions and strategies to fit a digital, fully integrated future.

Havas Ortega has stepped up to the plate by setting up its own Build & Innovation team, headed by creative technologist Jason Drilon, whose career spans over a decade and a half in providing innovative and creative solutions for some of the largest brands in the world. Drilon’s body of work includes years in BBDO Guerrero, JimenezBasic Advertising, Ogilvy and Mather, and Bates 141.

Drilon previously worked at Havas Ortega between 2011 and 2015 as their Head of User Experience + Technology and Creative Collaborator. He worked in an internal unit, Collab, which integrated several disciplines, including design and technology, to provide innovative and creative ideas for Havas’ brands. During this time, he was instrumental in developing Havas Media APAC's HEARTbot (Havas Engagement-Activated Response Technology Robot), a platform that can connect social media behavior such as likes and hashtags to electronic switches that can turn on lights or activate machines. The project sought to help brands achieve more meaningful connections with their consumers, through engagement and participation.
He was then given the opportunity to work at The LEGO Group in Billund, Denmark, where he stayed for two years as the Lead Content Strategist for LEGO City, LEGO Minifigures, LEGO BOOST and LEGO House. He was in charge of UX design for desktop and mobile, digital content strategies, ideation and production, and digital project management on these brands, cementing his multi-disciplinary expertise in technology, strategy, and creative solutions.

Drilon’s homecoming to Havas Ortega marks the beginning of the agency’s next leap into digital transformation. Heading the Build & Innovation team, he will help provide innovative solutions that leverage the latest technologies and trends in design, and build apps, platforms, and user experiences for Havas Ortega’s clients.

“Innovation is an oft-misused term in the industry that just wants to grasp at anything new. My goal is to provide solutions and strategies that are truly innovative in meaningful ways, which engage with consumers and their needs. I’m happy to be working once more with Havas Ortega and seeing what I can contribute in this digital era. My experience outside the country has certainly given me brand-new perspectives, and I’d like to take this opportunity to give back,” Drilon said of his appointment.

CEO Jos Ortega looks forward to the work of the Build & Innovation team, advancing his vision of the agency providing a truly integrated marketing and communications solution for their clients. “Digital isn’t the future – it’s the present. Through our Build & Innovation team, Havas Ortega will help more brands achieve their business objectives with creative solutions tailored to the digital era.”

Ma. Criselda “Shayne” Garcia Madamba

Ma. Criselda “Shayne” Garcia Madamba is the new Chief Digital Officer of Havas Ortega. She will drive the company’s digital products to meet the needs of their clients as they take the next quantum leap in the digital space.

With her rich experience from media planning to business development and performance marketing, her role at Havas Ortega is to propel all digital operations. She will lead the following pure player brands of the Agency: Socialyse, a digital integrated
Havas Ortega introduces new Chief Digital Officer

social media solution which combines owned, earned, paid and shared social media activities for audiences to be engaged; Affiperf, the programmatic pure player that combines the best of technology with data savvy human expertise to provide solutions; and Ecselis, a business specialized on online performance marketing that aims to increase the possibilities for prospect conversions through tracking and analytics.

Shayne has been in the media business for more than 16 years. Her advertising journey began at Starcom followed by other notable companies in the industry such as Carat, UM, Mediacom, iProspect, and now with Havas Ortega. She has received national and international accolades. She led her former agency to a Silver award for Campaign Asia’s Digital Agency of the Year in 2017. She was also named into the exclusive '40 Under 40 List' in APAC also by Campaign Asia last 2016.

Hermie de Leon, Managing Partner of Havas Ortega and CEO of Havas Media Group says, “Many clients are undergoing massive digital transformations. We need to re-define the role of agencies in the new ecosystem. We brought in Shayne to lead this change.”

Thoughts on her big career move, “My journey with iProspect will always play a huge role in my agency career since it was like home to me for six years.  However, this time I am opening a new chapter in my life and I hope our industry will embrace me with this new adventure.  No words can contain how honored and privileged I am to join Havas Ortega as Chief Digital Officer.  I sincerely thank Vishnu Mohan, Jos Ortega, Hermie de
Havas Ortega introduces new Chief Digital Officer

Leon, and Tonypet Sarmiento for believing in my capabilities. I am more than excited to teach and learn from my team in the long run as there is always something new in the information age.”

Aside from her advertising life, Shayne is also passionate about education. She has spent years teaching in UP Diliman and UP Manila. She is also a regular subject-matter-expert at the Certified Digital Marketer Program and would give several talks in multiple marketing events locally and abroad.

*This is Press Release