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CEO Profiles: Teresita Sy-Coson

By Rocky Teodoro
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Teresita Sy-Coson shapes the Philippine business landscape through her executive leadership at SM Group and BDO Unibank.

Teresita Sy-Coson shapes the Philippine business landscape through her executive leadership at SM Group and BDO Unibank.

Teresita Sy-Coson played a major role in expanding the conglomerate, SM Group, helping launch its first department store and later its first shopping mall. 

The eldest daughter of the late retail magnate Henry Sy Sr., she became president of the SM Department Stores unit in 1990 and has since held senior leadership roles across the group’s retail, banking, and property businesses. Through strategic mergers and acquisitions, including the takeover of the larger Equitable PCI Bank in 2006, she built BDO into the largest bank in the Philippines in terms of total assets, deposits, and loans.

Current Companies and Roles

  • Vice Chairperson, SM Investments Corporation 
  • Chairperson, BDO Unibank, Inc. 
  • Chairperson, SM Retail, Inc.
  • Chairperson, BDO Private Bank, Inc.
  • Adviser to the Board, SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
  • Vice Chairperson, SM Foundation, Inc.
  • Member, Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC)

Previous Roles

  • Vice Chairperson and Director, Equitable PCI Bank, Inc. 
  • Chairperson, BDO Leasing & Finance, Inc.
  • Chairperson, BDO Capital & Investment Corp.
  • Chairperson, BDO Realty Corp.
  • Chairperson / President, Supervalue, Inc. and Super Shopping Market, Inc.
  • Executive Vice President, First Asia Realty Development Corp.
  • Chairperson, Generali Pilipinas Holding Co., Inc. and Generali Pilipinas Life Assurance Co., Inc.

Awards and Recognition

  • Tatler Most Influential Philippines, Tatler Asia (2025)
  • 2024 Filipino of the Year, Daily Tribune (2024)
  • Asia’s Most Influential (Philippines), Tatler Asia (2024)
  • Asia’s Most Influential (Philippines), Tatler Asia (2022)
  • Asia’s Most Influential (Philippines), Tatler Asia (2021)
  • Asian Corporate Director Recognition Award, Corporate Governance Asia (2019)
  • Lifetime Contributor of the Year, Asia CEO Awards (2018)
  • Management Man of the Year, Management Association of the Philippines (2016)
  • Philippine Retailing’s Woman Visionary Leader, Philippine Retailers Association / DTI event coverage (2015)
  • Philippine Retailers Association President’s Award, Philippine Retailers Association (2014)
  • Asian Bank Leadership Award, The Asian Banker (2012)
  • Award for Women in Financial Services, The Asian Banker (2012)
  • Best Retail Banker of the Year, The Asian Banker (2012)
  • Asia’s Best CEO, Corporate Governance Asia (Multiple-year recipient)
  • Asian Corporate Director of the Year, Corporate Governance Asia (Multiple-year recipient)
  • Forbes Asia’s 50 Power Business Women, Forbes Asia (Multiple appearances)
  • Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in the World, Fortune (Listed consecutively from 2001–2010) 

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Assumption College

Key Quotes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Teresita Sy-Coson serves as vice chairperson of SM Investments Corporation, chairperson of BDO Unibank and BDO Private Bank, chairperson of SM Retail, adviser to the board of SM Prime Holdings, vice chairperson of SM Foundation, and a member of the Private Sector Advisory Council.

Teresita Sy-Coson led BDO Unibank's 2006 takeover of the larger Equitable PCI Bank, a merger that made BDO the country's largest bank by total assets, deposits, and loans, building on her earlier leadership across BDO's leasing, capital, and realty units.

Teresita Sy-Coson became president of SM Department Stores in 1990 and helped launch the group's first department store and later its first shopping mall, positioning her as a driving force behind SM Group's retail and property expansion across the Philippines.

Teresita Sy-Coson was named Tatler Asia's Most Influential Philippines honoree in 2025 and Daily Tribune's 2024 Filipino of the Year, alongside repeat recognitions from Corporate Governance Asia, Forbes Asia, Fortune, and The Asian Banker across her banking and retail career.

Teresita Sy-Coson holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Assumption College.

Rocky Teodoro

Rocky Teodoro

Writer

Rocky Teodoro is a writer and editor with 2 decades of experience. He has previously served as a senior manager for News and Research in S&P Global. He has also served as a managing editor for The Business Manual and a news editor for oil and gas portal Rigzone. In his editorial career, he also has stints as a technical writer, features writer, manuscript editor, and magazine contributor.

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