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Teresita Sy-Coson

Teresita Sy-Coson

T. Sy-Coson
-0.28% | - $-4.44M
$1.59 B ₹ 14,423 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2432 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Teresita Sy-Coson

Gender

Female

Age

75Y

Country

Philippines

Born On

October, 1950

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

3

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

No

Entrepreneur Type

Inherited (Expanded Family Business)

Primary Organization

SM Investments

Titles

Co-Chairman

Sources of Wealth

SM Investments, BDO Unibank

Industry

Retail, Real Estate, Banking, Diversified, Finance

About Teresita Sy-Coson


T eresita Sy-Coson is the matriarch of the Sy family and one of the most powerful and influential business leaders in the Philippines. She is the eldest child and a key heir of the late Henry Sy Sr., a self-made tycoon who started with a small shoe store and built the SM Group into the Philippines' largest and most dominant conglomerate. After her father's death in 2019, she and her five siblings inherited the vast family empire.

Having been deeply involved in the family's business for her entire career, Sy-Coson plays a pivotal leadership role. She serves as the co-chairman of the group's main publicly traded holding company, SM Investments Corporation, which has massive interests in retail (with its ubiquitous SM Supermalls), real estate (SM Prime Holdings), and banking. She is also the chairwoman of BDO Unibank, the largest bank in the Philippines. As the most visible and active of the Sy siblings, she is the public face of the dynasty and is responsible for guiding the strategy of its sprawling business interests.

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Quick Reads


  • Co-Chairman of SM Investments, the Philippines' largest conglomerate.
  • Chairwoman of BDO Unibank, the country's largest bank.
  • She is the eldest child of the late Henry Sy Sr., the founder of the SM Group.
  • Considered the most powerful businesswoman in the Philippines.
  • The family's empire includes the massive SM chain of shopping malls.

Early Life and Background


Teresita 'Tessie' Sy-Coson is a Filipino businesswoman, the billionaire Vice Chairperson of SM Investments Corporation (PSE: SM) and Chairperson of BDO Unibank. Her colossal wealth is generational, tied to the industrial and retail empire founded by her late father, Henry Sy Sr. (d. 2019), in 1958.

Sy-Coson's career is defined by generational stewardship and executive leadership in the retail, banking, and real estate sectors. Her philosophical approach centers on scale, vertical integration, and long-term asset hold in the essential Philippine consumer market.

  • SM Investments Corporation (Vice Chairperson): The core publicly traded asset, a massive conglomerate spanning malls, banking (BDO Unibank), and property development (SM Prime).
  • BDO Unibank (Chairperson): The Philippines' largest bank, which she leads (a major financial structural role).
  • Retail Focus: Her success is built on scale retail and dominating the domestic market for affordable consumer goods and financial services.
  • Family Governance: She and her siblings control the massive SM Group empire, continuing the legacy of their father.

Career Journey of Teresita Sy-Coson


Teresita Sy-Coson's strategic leadership involves managing the immense SM Group empire. She assumed a key executive role and was instrumental in leading the transformation and growth of BDO Unibank into the largest bank in the Philippines. Her structural contribution is immense: pioneering the scale, integrated shopping mall model and providing foundational financial services that accelerated the Philippine economy's development.

She remains Vice Chairperson of SM Investments and Chairperson of BDO Unibank, guiding the company's continuous expansion and technological modernization. Her wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the Philippine retail, banking, and real estate sectors.

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Teresita Sy-Coson's Timeline


1980s (approx.):

Teresita Sy-Coson assumes an executive role in the family business (Executive Ascent).

1990s:

Assumes a leadership role in BDO Unibank (Financial Apex).

2019 (January):

Her father, Henry Sy Sr., passes away; Teresita assumes Vice Chairperson role (Succession/Executive Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Vice Chairperson of SM Investments and Chairperson of BDO Unibank, guiding the massive conglomerate (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Teresita Sy-Coson's wealth is concentrated in her family's controlling stake and executive leadership of the publicly traded conglomerates, SM Investments Corporation (PSE: SM), SM Prime Holdings (PSE: SMPH), and BDO Unibank (PSE: BDO).

  • SM Investments Corporation (Vice Chairperson): The core publicly traded asset, a massive conglomerate spanning malls, banking (BDO Unibank), and property development (SM Prime).
  • BDO Unibank (Chairperson): The Philippines' largest bank, which she leads.
  • Retail Focus: Her success is built on scale retail and dominating the domestic market for affordable consumer goods and financial services.
  • Family Governance: She and her siblings control the massive SM Group empire, continuing the legacy of their father.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Teresita Sy-Coson's social impact flows from the SM Group's role as the largest employer and provider of essential retail, banking, and housing infrastructure in the Philippines. The SM Foundation supports major initiatives in education, healthcare, and disaster relief, making substantial contributions to community welfare and national recovery efforts.

Her personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Teresita Sy-Coson maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. Her attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global financial sector.

Residing in Manila, Philippines, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to corporate governance, strategic investment, and financial management.

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Quotes and Philosophy


“We build not just malls, but communities. That integrated approach is the enduring philosophy of the SM Group.”

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • She is the Vice Chairperson of SM Investments Corporation and Chairperson of BDO Unibank (The Philippines' largest bank).
  • Her father, Henry Sy Sr., founded the SM Group (the largest mall operator in the Philippines).
  • Her fortune is tied to the successful generational management and stability of the Philippine retail and banking sectors.
  • She is known for her role in leading the growth and modernization of BDO Unibank.
  • Her structural wealth is tied to long-term asset hold in prime real estate.
  • Her philosophy emphasizes scale, vertical integration, and financial prudence.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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