Through homegrown titles and Philippine editions of global publications, the AGC Power Holdings Corp. chairman and CEO has helped build platforms for Filipino talent and storytelling.
Archie G. Carrasco, chairman and CEO of AGC Power Holdings Corp., has been named to The Business of Fashion’s BoF 500 Class of 2026. He is the only Philippines-based member of this year’s class.
The BoF 500 is an index of people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by its editors through nominations and insights gathered worldwide. This year’s additions include Heated Rivalry actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams; designers Dario Vitale and Ulla Johnson; Feed Me founder Emily Sundberg; and Puck fashion journalist Lauren Sherman.
Filipinos recognized over the years include retailer Mark “Jappy” Gonzalez and SSI Group and Rustan Commercial Corporation President and CEO Anton Tantoco Huang. Their inclusion reflects the different ways Filipinos participate in the industry, from leading conversations to building businesses.
“Learning about it [my inclusion] was a deeply reflective moment,” Carrasco shares with Lifestyle Asia. “My immediate thoughts went to the journey, the teams behind our platforms, and the Filipino creatives whose work gives those platforms their relevance. Having that vision recognized internationally is meaningful because it suggests that what we are building from the Philippines is increasingly part of a much larger conversation.”
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Archie Carrasco BoF 500 Recognition: A Vision For Philippine Media
As his BoF 500 profile notes, Carrasco’s journey began at One MEGA Group, where he joined in 2007, becoming CEO in 2019 and acquiring the business in 2020. He went on to establish AGC Power Holdings Corp., building a media portfolio that pairs homegrown titles such as MEGA and Lifestyle Asia with international publications. The launches of Vogue Philippines, Allure Philippines, Rolling Stone Philippines, and, most recently, GQ Philippines, among others, reflect that expansion, creating more platforms for Filipino talent and storytelling.
Asked what a major turning point was that shaped the leader he is today, Carrasco says it was “choosing to think beyond the limitations of the businesses I inherited, and instead imagining the institution it could become. That required taking risks, accepting that transforming would be uncomfortable, and surrounding myself with people who could build things I could never build alone.”
That balance between building on legacy and imagining its future is especially relevant to Lifestyle Asia, one of the longstanding titles he took on. “Heritage is valuable only when it continues to evolve,” Carrasco says. “You respect what made a brand important, but you cannot preserve it in amber. Every generation defines aspiration differently. Our responsibility is to understand what remains timeless about the brand while continuously reconsidering how that idea should be expressed today.”
His inclusion in The BoF 500 places a Philippine business leader working at the intersection of media and creativity within a global industry community.
Photography by Kieran Punay of KLIQ, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Archie G. Carrasco is the founder, chairman, and CEO of AGC Power Holdings Corp., a Philippine company with businesses in lifestyle media, marketing, and retail.
The BoF 500 is The Business of Fashion’s index of people shaping the global fashion industry. Its editors select members through nominations and insights gathered around the world.
Archie Carrasco was named to The BoF 500 Class of 2026, marking an international milestone for the Philippine media leader.
AGC Power Holdings Corp.’s portfolio includes Lifestyle Asia, MEGA, Vogue Philippines, Allure Philippines, Billboard Philippines, and Rolling Stone Philippines.
Filipinos recognized over the years include retailer Mark “Jappy” Gonzalez and SSI Group and Rustan Commercial Corporation President and CEO Anton Tantoco Huang.
