Henry Sy

Henry Sy, Sr. (Chinese: 施至成; pinyin: Shī Zhìchéng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Si Chì-sêng; born December 25, 1924) is a Chinese-Filipino business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is involved in the industries of real estate, hospitality, banking, mining, education, and health care. He is responsible for the establishment of SM Malls, anchored by Shoemart Department Store and Supermarket. He is the chairman of SM Prime in , Inc., the holding corporation for all his business interests in his vast business empire. In 2011, Forbes Magazine listed him as the richest man in the Philippines.

Early life

Henry Sy was born to a poor family in Jinjiang, China on December 25, 1924. He is the son of Henry H. Sy and Tan O Sia.

He completed his secondary education in a school now known as Chiang Kai Shek College and earned his Associate of Arts degree in Commercial Studies at Far Eastern University in 1950.

Career

In 1958, Sy established a small shoe store in Quiapo, Manila that marked the establishment of SM Prime Holdings. In November 1972, the small shoe store became SM Quiapo, SM's first standalone department store.