Sy-Coson cited for ‘vision’

Tessie Sy-Coson: Woman Visionary Leader CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Tessie Sy-Coson of the SM Group received the PRA President’s Award from the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) in ceremonies held recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

Sy-Coson was recognized as Philippine Retailing’s Woman Visionary Leader for her “insightful vision and commendable leadership at the helm of SM which has made it the largest and most consistently successful retail conglomerate in the Philippines,” said PRA president Lorenzo C. Formoso.

The SM Group also received several honors at the 17th Outstanding Filipino Retailers and Shopping Centers of the Year Awards Night. The SM Store was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in the Full Line Department Store category; the Foreign Fashion Apparel Award went to Forever 21 in the large category; the Foreign Brand Category Killer to ACE Hardware; and the Shopping Center of the Year (Small Category) to SM Center Muntinlupa.

This was the ninth year the PRA, the largest organization of the country’s top movers and shakers in the retail industry, handed out the President’s Award.

Sy-Coson’s father, SM chair and founder Henry Sy Sr., was the first PRA President’s Award recipient, honored as the Father of Philippine Retail.

Starting out in merchandising in the SM Makati store, Sy-Coson now sits as vice chair of SM Investments Corp. whose businesses include retail, property and banking.

She also works with SM’s mall operations through SM Prime Holdings Inc., where she sits as adviser to the board of directors, and BDO Unibank Inc., which she chairs.

Sy-Coson has received numerous citations, including being named one of Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women in Business for 10 years, and Forbes Asia’s Power Business Women the past three years.