IBPAP names Celeste Ilagan as first female president
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Celeste Ilagan will become the first woman to lead the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines when she assumes the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on October 11, 2026, succeeding Jack Madrid after nearly 30 years in the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry.
Ilagan was announced as IBPAP’s next leader in August 2026, with her term beginning at the helm of the industry body that advocates for the Philippines’ outsourcing and technology services sector.
Ilagan’s 30-year career spans policy, investment promotion, and IBPAP operations
Ilagan served two consecutive terms on the IBPAP Board of Trustees from 2019 to 2022 before joining the association’s leadership team directly, initially as its first Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer in 2022.
She has since served as IBPAP’s Chief Operating Officer. Before her time at IBPAP, Ilagan worked at the Board of Investments in investment promotion for the Philippine government.
According to a report from The Philippine Star, Ilagan’s appointment makes her the first woman to lead IBPAP, stepping into the top role as the Philippines’ business process outsourcing (BPO) and technology sector expands into higher-value global capability center work and faces increasing competition from rival offshore markets.
IBPAP said Ilagan’s appointment reflects the industry’s need for leadership with policy, regulatory, and operational depth as the IT-BPM sector navigates headcount growth, AI integration, and rising competition for international investment.
Ilagan championed CREATE MORE Act and BPO workforce training programs
Among her policy achievements at IBPAP are the advocacy campaign for the CREATE MORE Act, legislation designed to extend tax incentives for IT-BPM investments in the Philippines and maintain the country’s competitive positioning as an offshore delivery destination.
She also led IBPAP’s sustained effort to resolve outstanding tax issues affecting offshore delivery companies and worked to reduce regulatory friction for operators in Philippine economic zones, two areas where the association has pushed for government action on behalf of the sector.
Ilagan collaborated with technical and vocational education authorities to align workforce development programs with BPO hiring requirements, a mandate the association has treated as a priority as demand for technology-skilled IT-BPM talent grows beyond contact-center functions.
For BPO operators in the Philippines, Ilagan’s elevation signals a continuation of IBPAP’s policy-first agenda under leadership with direct experience in regulatory affairs and investment promotion.
The Philippines’ IT-BPM sector, which employs 1.89 million professionals and generated US$40.3 billion in revenue in 2025, faces opportunity in global capability center expansion and competitive pressure from neighboring markets.
Buyers evaluating the Philippines as an offshore destination should expect continued IBPAP advocacy for the incentive structures and workforce programs that sustain sector growth.
Related news
- Philippine IT-BPM targets $42Bn in revenue, 1.97Mn jobs for 2026 · 24 Jun
- IBPAP bets on GCCs to defend PH’s IT-BPM lead · 18 Aug
Disclosure: Outsource Accelerator uses AI tools in the backend of its editorial workflow. Every article is reviewed and verified by a human editor before publication.
Stay ahead of the outsourcing industry. Join thousands of business leaders who rely on Outsource Accelerator for the news, trends, and expert insights that matter. Subscribe to our free newsletter and never miss an update.
