Felipe Gozon retires as CEO after making GMA Network No. 1 TV station in PH

Atty. Felipe L. Gozon is stepping down as GMA Network's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after making the network the number one television station in the Philippines.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras," Monday, Gozon bought the struggling GMA Network from Bob Stewart in 1974 along with his partners Gilberto Duavit Sr. and Menardo Jimenez.

Under his leadership, GMA Network produced the biggest and highest rating shows in Philippine television as well as award-winning newscasts and public affairs programs.

"When I took the helm of the GMA in 2000 we were a far second among the Philippine TV stations. So I dreamed of making GMA number one and rallied my team to work harder than ever before. The rest is history," Gozon said in a speech last year.

As the country's top TV station, Gozon said the challenge is to keep doing better than before.

"That is to provide the kind of superior, responsible entertainment that we have to, to the public, and more importantly... to provide objective, unbiased, walang pinoprotektahan, walang kinikilingang pagbabalita sa buong bansa," he said.

"Integrity and truth are what we live for in the media industry," he added. "We are committed to truth above all else."

With Gozon's retirement, incumbent Chief Operating Officer (COO) Gilberto Duavit Jr. will take over as CEO while incumbent RGMA Network and GMA New Media Director Joel Marcelo Jimenez will chair the Executive Committee.

Gozon will remain as chairman of the board and will continue to serve as an adviser to the company.

In his over two decades as CEO, Gozon led GMA Network to a number of achievements, among them four prestigious George Peabody Awards.

Gozon expressed his gratitude to God and to all the people behind GMA Network for making the success possible. 

"I have always said that our people are our best assets," he said. The equipment we buy will depreciate the moment we use them, but the stories we create live in the hearts of our viewers and appreciate over time."

—MGP, GMA Integrated News