After decades in the corporate world, losing a job at 42 could have been a career-ending moment. Instead, it became the push to start a business that would grow into a multimillion-peso brand.
Nonoy Quimbo spent years working in consumer goods and beverages, holding leadership roles at P&G, Pepsi, and Novartis. But after the division he was running at Novartis was sold, his corporate future became uncertain.
“I was laid off from my job, and they did not pursue the other options that were available to me,” Quimbo recalls. “It was not clear what my career direction would be after they sold the company I was running, so sabi ko, let’s look at my other options now.”
That’s when he made a life-changing decision: leave the corporate world and build something from scratch.
“This is maybe the time for me to go out on my own and see what I can do,” he says.
It wasn’t an easy choice. With kids in elementary and high school, financial stability was a priority. But Quimbo had a passion for the beverage business and decided to take a chance—using his savings to launch what would eventually become Novellino Wines, the Philippines’ leading brand for locally made sweet wines.
“I had to be cautious because my kids were in school, but I knew it was now or never,” he says.
Quimbo bet on affordable, high-quality wines designed for Filipino tastes. Today, Novellino dominates the local market and has expanded its reach across the country.
Looking back, Quimbo says taking the leap was worth it.
“You need a shake-up in your career to redirect yourself. For me, that moment was the turning point,” he says.
A corporate layoff became the opportunity to build a brand, an industry leader, and a lasting legacy.
This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.
