Editor’s note: This press release is sponsored by SM Supermalls and was handled by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the publishing of this piece.

Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls, was awarded Grand Winner for Global Filipino Executive of the Year in the recently concluded Asia CEO Awards.

The Asia CEO Awards honors Filipino companies, entrepreneurs, and executives that have both excelled, and have made a significant positive impact on society. Finalists are included in a Circle of Excellence from which a Grand Winner is chosen.

Under the leadership of Tan, SM Supermalls withstood the difficulties of the pandemic, and experienced a strong rebound as the economy opened. The company managed to recover its mall revenue, occupancy, and foot traffic targets. SM continued to be the first choice for market entry of new global brands to the Philippines, with the opening of the largest IKEA in the world at SM Mall of Asia Complex. SM was the only mall operator to open new developments from 2020 until 2022. SM Supermalls also partnered with LGUs nationwide and became a key player in helping the country and the economy bounce back from the pandemic through its COVID-19 testing and vaccination program with over 10.5M jabs delivered.

Committed to continue serving the communities, SM Supermalls embraced the changes brought by the pandemic with agility, innovation, and responsiveness to the needs of its employees, customers, and tenants.

“We are simply people helping other people, and giving back to our communities has always been a part of SM’s mission and DNA,” said Steven Tan. 

Rising stronger from the pandemic, SM launched “Safe Malling at SM”, a comprehensive campaign that reinvented the malling experience, ensuring that every customer is safe and protected against COVID-19 in all its malls. Part of this campaign is the launch of its e-commerce platform, SM Malls Online, giving customers the option to shop for  essentials from home. New and safe malling experiences such as DOH’s Farmers’ Produce Markets, Paw Parks, outdoor dining, and bike lanes among others were also introduced. 

“On behalf of SM Supermalls and the Sy family, I am honored and grateful to receive this recognition, and I dedicate this to our team, the Sy family and Mr. Henry Sy for his inspiration. With this award, we at SM Supermalls promise to remain committed in serving our communities, constantly evolving and innovating to build a better future for the Filipinos,” Tan said.

The announcement of the winners of the 2022 Asia CEO Award was held last October 11 at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom. – Rappler.com