HENRY SY SR.
Chinese Name: 施至成
(Shī Zhì Chéng) ”to attain ultimate success”
CEO & Chairman SM Prime Holdings Inc.
CURRENT BOARD MEMBERSHIP
2002-Present Highlands Prime Holdings Inc.
Chairman of the Board and Chairman of Executive Committee
1994-Present SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Chairman of the Board, CEO, and Chairman of Nomination Commitee
1960-Present SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Chairman of the Board, CEO
1960-Present SM Investments Corp.
Chairman of the Board
1960-Present SM Development Corp.
Chairman of the Board
1960-Present Highlands Prime Holdings Inc.
Chairman of the Board
Banco De Oro
Chairman Emeritus
China Banking Corporation
Honorary Chairman and Advisor to the Board
Founder of SM Group
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1999-2007 Keppel Philippines Properties Inc.
Former Director
1995-2007 Republic Glass Holdings Corp.
Former Director
1989-2006 Keppel Philippines Marine
Former Director
1989-2006 Keppel Philippines Properties Inc.
Former Director
1989-2006 SM Keppel Land Inc.
Former Director
San Miguel Corp.
Former Director
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
CV by Diane Grace D. Ortiz 1
Self made man
When he was only 12 years of age, Henry Sy followed his father to the Philippines from their home
village in Ang-khue of the Dieng-oh municipality in the county of Jinjiang, near Xiamen in Fujian province of
China. The young boy helped his father work more than 12 hours in a day at their sari-sari store located in
Echague St.(now Carlos Palanca Sr. St.) in Quiapo, Manila. He find ways on how to earn extra profits by
developing a smaller packaging of merchandise (like the sachets we are familiar now). After the war, nothing
had left from their stores. One was looted and the other burned down. His father left the country but he
decided to stay. He found an opportunity to venture into buying footwear brought in by enterprising
American Soldiers or GIs and later on selling them.
From here on, he witnessed the rebirth of Philippine economy, and took the opportunity to set up a
shoe store in Carriedo St. which was named (Shoe Mart). He incorporated new ideas, merchandising ideas
that have never been done in the country that time. His stores started to grow in number, and his shoe store
was on top. But then he saw an opportunity to sell more products and reach new markets. This was the
beginning of the continuous establishment of SM supermalls arund the country and eventually abroad.
Through his relentless efforts in studying the market, suppliers, and customers while looking out for
opportunities and grabbing them as they come; he was able to grow his business making his dream of
creating the largest mall a reality.
Philippines’ Richest Man, No. 201 World’s Richest Man
According to Forbes Asia Mr. Henry Sy is now the Richest Man in the country leaving behind Lucio
Tan, Jaime Zobel De Ayala, John Gokongwei among many others. This fortune comes from the investments
he has built up through time.
Forbes magazine included Henry Sy in its list with net worth of $4.2 Billion.
“Father of Philippine Retail”
As of now, more than 40 SM malls are spread across the country and abroad. Because of his
expertise in this industry, showed by his achievements in building the largest retail stores and most successful
mall developer, he was awarded the first special recognition on December 2005 by the Philippine Retailers
Association. He was also named "Management Man of the Year" by the Makati Business Club.
Success of SM Group of Companies
All five of SM’s major businesses (Retail, Malls, Banking, Property, Tourism) are doing well. The retail
business is comprised of SM Department Stores, SM Supermarkets, SM Hypermarkets and Makro. About 40
SM malls gets 3 million visitors daily on the average. The Banking businesses BDO and Chinabank are one of
the most profitable banks in the country. The high rise residential properties of SMDC are now the leader,
dislodging AyalaLand. SM is now the biggest in convention business with 2.75 hectares of leasable space and
814 rooms by June 2011. The Banking business contributes most of the profits at about 32%; followed by
Retail at 31%, Malls 24%, and Real Estate and Tourism the remaining 13%.
Heroes of Philanthropy 2009
Henry Sy is one of the four Flipinos who were awarded by Forbes in the Pacific region.
1st Chinese-Filipino recipient of the PCE Big Brother of Filipino Entrepreneurs Award (2006)
1st Chinese-Filipino recipient of the PRA President's Award (2005)
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
CV by Diane Grace D. Ortiz 2
1936 Quiapo Anglo-Chinese School
Primary Education, Accelerated during 4th grade
Mr. Sy went to the Philippines at age 12 without any knowledge in English and Filipino
languages. Desperate for learning, he asked permission from his father to go back to school.
Though he was already 12 years old he started at 1 st grade, but later asked his teacher for
acceleration during his 4th grade provided that he maintains an average grade of 90.
1950 Far Eastern University
Associate of Arts degree in Commercial Studies
Henry Sy failed to finish high school due to the chaos brought by the World War II. FEU,
however, allowed him to take the college entrance exams. He passed the exam
notwithstanding his lack of high school diploma. His college attendance was unfortunately
cut to only two years because of the pressures and lack of focus for his growing business.
1999 De La Salle University-Manila
Honorary Doctorate in Business Management
2007 University of Guam
Honorary Doctorate in Business Management
PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES
Founder of SM Foundation Inc.
Henry Sy founded the SM Foundation which is the CSR arm of the SM Group of Companies. The
foundation started with giving out scholarships to graduating high school students for them to be able to continue
with their tertiary education. There were also school building donations, building of Catholic chapels and youth
centers. Later on, the foundation was visible in medical outreach programs. The Foundation organizes medical
missions in areas where the community can not afford medical services. To add to that, Barangay Health Centers
and public Hospital wards were adopted to serve more communities. After the onslaught of calamites, the
“Operation Tulong Express” program implements relief operations. To help the agricultural sector, SM
Supermarkets allots space for farmers for them to sell their produce. Another program done by this foundation is
conducting livelihood projects.
SM Cares
A program that consolidates SM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives ranging from
environmental conservation, assistance to persons with disabilities and special needs, senior citizens and nursing
mothers, as well as care for children, women, OFWs and tourists in general.
For example in their environmental responsibility SM initiated several ways to help save the earth. For
instance the shopping bags from SM are bio-degradable [ CITATION SMP \l 1033 ][ CITATION SMP \l 1033 ] ,
shoppers are also encouraged to use reusable bags when shopping.
Top 3 Lessons Learned
1. “There is no such thing as overnight success or easy money. If you fail, do not be discouraged; try again. When
you do well, do not change your ways. Success is not just good luck: it is a combination of hard work, good credit
standing, opportunity, readiness and timing. Success will not last if you do not take care of it.”
Henry Sy succeeded because he has the discipline; he was trained to be hard working and determined through
his frugal childhood; a very optimistic person amidst the challenges he faced, he had a dream, he believed in it,
and he did not stop until it becomes a reality.
CV by Diane Grace D. Ortiz 3
2. Have a long term vision and strategy. Be sure to monitor the market, take opportunities as the come, adapt to
the new trends in the market and change plans accordingly.
As with Henry Sy, he studied the industry so well that he is able to see opportunities, he knows when and how
to approach such opportunities. Though there were risks, he thought of the long term impact of his decisions
especially that Supermalls are long term investments; the payback period is about 8 years.
3. Give back. Don’t forget to touch other people’s lives especially those in your own community.
SOURCES
<http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?
personId=8382145&ticker=SM:US>
< http://www.sminvestments.com/smic/index.php?p=259&type=2&sec=25&aid=7677 >
< http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Business/world-billionaire.php?profile=Henry-Sy&id=206 >
< http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Henry-Sy-family_8U2J.html >
< http://www.people.nfo.ph/businessman/henry-sy-sr/>
< http://wowganda.blogspot.com/2009/02/henry-sy-biography.html>
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Sy>
< http://www.affordablecebu.com/forum/9-7-1>
< http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501040223/sy.html>
<http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090306-192702/4-Filipinos-in-Forbes-Heroes-of-
Philanthropy>
<http://www.examiner.com/phillippines-headlines-in-national/sm-shoemart-founder-henry-sy-tops-list-of-richest-
filipinos-again>
< http://www.pinoybisnes.com/filipino-entrepreneur/henry-sy-father-of-philippine-retail/ >
2009. SM Prime Holdings Inc. Annual Report
CV by Diane Grace D. Ortiz 4
