Early Life
Henry Sy Jr. was born in the Philippines in 1953. He is the son of Henry Sy Sr., the visionary founder of SM Investments, and Felicidad Tan. Sy Jr. received a Bachelor of Science degree from De La Salle University. Growing up, he and his siblings were immersed in the family business from a young age, learning the intricacies of retail and real estate development.
Rise to Success
Sy Jr.'s career has been marked by significant contributions to the SM Group. He became the director of SM Prime in 1994 and later its board chairman in 2014. He served as president and CEO of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines from June 20, 2010 to March 7, 2018. His leadership was critical during the expansion of SM Prime, which grew into a major player in the Southeast Asian property market, with significant holdings in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy of Henry Sy Jr. has been to expand and diversify the SM Group's property portfolio. Under his leadership, SM Prime has been expanding with the opening of new malls. This strategy has helped SM Prime achieve significant revenue and profit growth. Furthermore, SM Prime has also invested heavily in residential and commercial developments, demonstrating a commitment to building integrated communities.
Philanthropy
The Sy family, including Henry Jr., has also been involved in various philanthropic endeavors through the SM Foundation Inc. The SM Foundation supports underprivileged youths, the disabled, and the elderly. SM Cares focuses on serving the customer and the community where every SM mall operates.