Patricia Bunye, senior partner and deputy managing partner for administration of Manila-based Cruz Marcelo & Tenerancia, has taken over as the president of Licensing Executives Society International (LESI). She succeeds James Sobieraj to become only the third female and the first Filipino president of the global association. Before she was elected to the role, she had served as president of LES Philippines from 2006 to 2009 and later, vice president and chair of the Asia Pacific committee of LESI. Writing in her president’s message, Bunye says that she will devote her 11-month term to consolidating the strengths of the organization, differentiating it from the competition, continuing the work started by her predecessors, and stimulating member engagement and connection.