Narciso Reyes, who was hired by the company in late 2012, will head up what is Google’s first representative office in the Philippines. The California-based firm now has five offices in South-East Asia, with the others to be found in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
The Philippines is seen by Google as a key market in the region and one with notable growth potential thanks to relatively low but burgeoning internet use.
Google has made clear its aim to better meet the needs of its customers in the Philippines and said its offices in the city will help considerably to that end. Dozens of new recruits are to be added to Google’s workforce in Manila over the coming weeks and months, a statement from the company explained.
“The Philippines is a key country in Southeast Asia in terms of its digital economy and tech-savvy population,” said Julian Persaud, Google’s managing director in South-East Asia. “This new office will allow us to better engage with our local users, partners and advertisers,” he said.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Google has acquired a development site near Kings Cross in central London where it intends to build a new British headquarters. The purchase cost the company a reported £1 billion and plans are in place for seven and an 11-storey building at the site.
Google’s central London-based staff currently operate from two separate offices in Victoria and Holborn respectively.