Leadership
Martin Yupangco
Founder & Managing Director
Martin Yupangco has over 30 years of international consulting experience specializing in business intelligence, investment research, analysis, due diligence and transaction advisory services to clients with investing activities throughout Asia. His consulting practice has also focused on complex transactions, competitor & market insight, government & regulatory affairs, reputation management, stakeholder relations and communications.
Paul Gary Bograd
Senior Advisor (Strategy & Communications)
Based in Manila, Paul Bograd has been a Senior Advisor to Martin Yupangco and Optima Strategies since 1998. He is an international communications advisor specializing in economic policy communications, crisis and risk management, electoral strategies, public and regulatory issues management & communications, institutional brand development, and behavioral economics.
Jesvin Kaur
Senior Advisor (Malaysia & Southeast Asia)
Based in Kuala Lumpur, Jesvin Kaur has been a Senior Advisor to Martin Yupangco and Optima Strategies since 2007. She has over 20 years of experience in business advisory, strategic communication solutions, and corporate research. Her current role at Optima Strategies involves providing strategic business advice, investment analysis, communication strategy, reputation management, and assisting clients navigate through a diverse range of investment and commercial challenges within the ASEAN region.
Sandra L. Bograd
SPECIAL ADVISOR (COMPLIANCE & SANCTIONS RISK MANAGEMENT)
Based in New York, Sandra Bograd has been a Special Advisor to Optima Strategies since 2014. She provides advice to corporate, governmental, NGO and multilateral institutions and organizations on the design and activation of best practices through effective programs of governance, sustainable business practices and compliance with expected social and ethical normative behaviors in global business operations (ESG). She has extensive experience in the development of programs to affirmatively mitigate the risk of corrupt behaviors in global organizations.
Joohee Cho
Special Advisor (South Korea & Northeast Asia)
Based in Seoul, Joohee Cho has been a Special Advisor to Martin Yupangco and Optima Strategies since 2007. Ms. Cho is ABC News' Seoul Bureau Chief and reporter covering the Korean peninsula (ABC News is the news division of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), owned by the Disney Media Networks division of The Walt Disney Company).
RJ Esteban
SPECIAL ADVISOR (MARKET RESEARCH & CAMPAIGNS)
Based in Manila, Raul “RJ” Esteban has been a Special Advisor to Optima Strategies since 2014. Mr. Esteban is a globally acknowledged leader in the theory, practice and innovation of consumer, market, public issue, and electoral research and analytics.
Paul Quaglia
SPECIAL ADVISOR (THAILAND & INDOCHINA)
Based in Bangkok, Paul Quaglia has been a Special Advisor to Martin Yupangco and Optima Strategies since 2000. He is a 20-year veteran of the US Central Intelligence Agency. He retired from the CIA in July 2000, after completing a 3-year assignment in Thailand where he worked in close cooperation with Thai military, police, intelligence and other senior government officials on a variety of issues.
Marco Sardillo
Special advisor (Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs)
Based in Manila, Marco Antonio Luisito Villanueva Sardillo III has served as Consulting Policy Director for Industry, Regulatory, and Legislative Affairs for clients such as Mastercard, OceanaGold, and the Environmental Defense Fund. He has also previously consulted for the United Nations Development Programme on sustainable urbanization and cities issues, as well as the legal feasibility of the Philippine Supreme Court’s e-Court program.