Google names new country head for Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Technology company Google has appointed Prep Palacios as the new country manager for the Philippines.

In a statement, Google said Palacios would be leading the firm’s efforts in helping businesses and communities take advantage of new opportunities in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and video commerce.

As country manager, Palacios will focus on empowering organizations as they navigate the evolving AI landscape by leveraging Google Search and YouTube to achieve growth, promote innovation and create impact.

Palacios will be reporting to Sapna Chadha, vice president for Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier at Google.

According to Chadha, Palacios is assuming the role at a pivotal moment as Search – now supercharged by Gemini – and YouTube Shopping are helping businesses engage audiences and achieve growth.

“The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic digital economies – young, AI-curious and video-first,” Chadha said.

She said Palacios is well positioned to champion Google’s continued growth and impact for the country and the region.

Palacios is stepping into the role with more than  two decades of leadership in the technology sector and deep experience across sales, business strategy and digital transformation.

At Google, she has helped scale the advertising business and enabled growth for customers through digital solutions.

Prior to Google, Palacios was involved with Microsoft leading channels, distribution and the small and medium-sized business segment.

She also previously held consulting roles at Oracle, Ernst & Young and Siemens.

“By combining our strong foundation in Search with the rapid growth of YouTube Shopping, we can enable businesses to scale faster, drive measurable results and reinforce the Philippines’ position as Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital economy,” Palacios said.