Standard Chartered names new corporate affairs head

MANILA, Philippines – Standard Chartered Bank CEO Eugene Ellis recently announced the permanent appointment of Gina dela Vega-Cruz as country head of corporate affairs. Dela Vega-Cruz, who joined the bank in the last quarter of 2008, will primarily be responsible for building the brand and profile of the London-based international bank, considered to be the oldest foreign bank in the Philippines with 137 years of operations.

Dela-Vega Cruz has more than two decades of experience in the fields of corporate communications, media relations, crisis and issues management. She has had PR stints in various industries, including power, hotel, personal care and financial services, plus the academe and the Senate.      

Ellis said, “Standard Chartered is pleased to have Gina on the team. Her vast experience would help her execute a corporate affairs agenda geared towards promoting and protecting the bank’s reputation. She is expected to build a stronger platform for the brand to complement the bank’s long history of service in the Philippines.” 

Dela Vega-Cruz expressed confidence by saying, “Standard Chartered Bank is a trusted institution that has navigated exceptionally well a particularly difficult global financial environment. As a group, the bank ended 2008 with income rising by 26 percent to $13.97 billion and operating profit before tax (OPBT) increasing by 13 percent to $4.57 billion. I hope to further build on Standard Chartered Bank’s reputation as a flight-to-quality institution that is highly liquid and well-capitalized.” 

Dela Vega-Cruz finished elementary and high school at St. Paul College, Bocaue, Bulacan and graduated with a degree of BA Communication, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Simultaneous with her career in public relations, Dela Vega-Cruz has also worked in the media as a news writer, anchor and public service program host. She was previously connected with TV networks NBN-4 and IBC-13 as well as the radio station Radio Veritas.