Jessica Soho given CEO Excel Award

MANILA, Philippines - Recognizing her leadership in communications excellence, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines on Sept. 4 conferred upon GMA 7 broadcast journalist Jessica Soho (photo) its CEO Excel Award for top-level business and organization heads.

The recognition comes just two months after Soho retired as an executive of GMA Network, ending her 30 years of employment at the position of first VP for news programs. She remains a Kapuso talent.

IABC Philippines said Soho is a leader for good governance and responsible corporate citizenship who “inspires others to serve for the greater good.”

IABC Philippines gives out the CEO Excel (Communication Excellence in Organization) award annually to leaders from the government, private, academic and nonprofit sectors “who epitomize management competence and excellence in communication at a strategic level.”

It is the local chapter of the San Francisco-based IABC, a global business communication organization with some 14,000 member-professionals in over 70 countries.

Awarding ceremonies were held at the Grand Ballroom of the Intercontinental Hotel, Ayala Ave., Makati City.

Soho said, “It is gratifying to be recipient of the CEO Excel Award now that I have just closed the chapter of my career as a management executive. However, I believe the recognition was a result not because of my efforts alone, but of our collective resolve in GMA to aspire for accuracy, balance and objectivity in every coverage and all our reports.”

Under her stewardship, GMA News programs such as 24 Oras and Saksi reached new heights in terms of viewership and enabled the network to go toe-to-toe with the competition.

Soho has been a driving force in GMA News and Public Affairs, helping the organization to win numerous awards through the years, including its recent George Foster Peabody Award for its coverage of Yolanda.