"He bested six other equally outstanding CEOs."
"He bested six other equally outstanding CEOs."
Topnotch banker Nestor V. Tan is the “Management Man of the Year” for 2019 of the Management Association of the Philippines.
Tan is the president and chief executive officer of BDO Unibank Inc., the Philippines’ largest commercial bank.
He bested six other equally outstanding CEOs in bagging the coveted and prestigious award.
BDO Unibank had total assets, as of Oct. 3 of P3.1 trillion (US$59.8 billion), the largest and up 7 percent; branch network of 1,300 (the largest), over 4,400 ATMs (the largest), and equity, as of June 30, 2019, of P350 billion (the largest and up 16 percent from a year ago); deposits of P2.399 billion (the largest and just steady); and loan portfolio of P2.096 billion (the largest and up 9 percent).
Tan joined the BDO board in 1998. The son of a no-nonsense accountant, he finished commerce from DeLa Salle Manila and his MBA at Wharton. Prior to joining it, BDO had just P36 billion as asset base.
Tan’s presidency was marked by explosive growth and major acquisitions and/or mergers with other banks over the years. They include: Dao Heng Bank in 2001, 1st e-Bank in 2002, Banco Santander in 2003, UOB Philippines in 2005, Equitable PCI Bank in 2007, GE Moneybank in 2009; Citibank Savings, and DB Trust, and Real Bank in 2014; One Network Bank in 2015, Diners Club and Generali Pilipinas Life in 2016, joint venture with Nomura Securities in 2016, and RB Pandi bank in 2019.
BDO began as the smallish Acme Savings Bank in 1976.
BDO was the product of smart and bold visioning and the excellent management under Nestor Tan. Tatang’s eldest, Tessie Sy Coson, is BDO chairman.
“MAP Management Man of the Year” is the highest accolade given an awardee’s peers in management and business. MAP has more than 1,000 CEOs of the land as members. In 50 years of the MAP, only 43 have made the grade to be so honored.
Aspirants for the plum are nominated who then are screened by a MAP screening committee which endorses the finalists to a board of judges, themselves outstanding tycoons and/or management men. The choice of the panel is then endorsed to the MAP membership in a general meeting assembled for the purpose.
In Nestor’s case, he blazed through the rigors of the screening and judging winning their unanimous nod each time. There were no objections when his name was announced as the winner on Oct. 23 during a jampacked meeting of the MAP.
Nestor Tan was chosen for the following:
1. Steering BDO to being consistently ranked by the global financial community as among the best-managed banks in the Philippines;
2. Transforming BDO into a full-service universal bank with subsidiaries in leasing, trust, stock brokerage, private banking, rural banking and insurance, among others;
3. Leading the substantial contributions of the BDO Group to national development through job creation and income generation;
4. Contributing to the long-term development of a financial-literate citizenry by promoting financial inclusion, particularly among teachers, soldiers, OFWs and the Filipino youth;
5. Choosing to apply his international experience towards the development of the local banking industry;
6. Ensuring that the Filipino community receives efficient banking and financial services and for preparing a road map for the development of banking and the capital market in the future as President of the Bankers Association of the Philippines; and
7. Setting an example for Filipino professional managers through a track record of integrity, professional competence and strong leadership in his banking career.
MAP bestows on individuals in the business community or government for attaining unquestioned distinction in the practice of management and for contributing to the country’s progress. The conferment of the award follows a thorough, stringent selection process.
The criteria for the award include integrity, leadership, and management qualities; contribution to nation building and values formation; effective stewardship within the confines of the highest standard of business and management practice; among others.
The roster of “MAP Management Man of the Year” awardees include: Washington Z. SyCip (1967), Geronimo Z. Velasco (1977), Henry A. Brimo (1978), Jose M. Soriano (1979), Cesar E.A. Virata (1981), Jaime V. Ongpin and Vicente T. Paterno (1982), Dante G. Santos (1983), Cesar A. Buenaventura and Roberto T. Villanueva (1985), Jaime Zobel de Ayala (1987), Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. (1988), Jose B. Fernandez, Jr. (1989), Raul T. Concepcion (1990), Oscar J. Hilado (1991), Alfonso T. Yuchengco (1992), Juan B. Santos (1994),
David M. Consunji and Rizalino S. Navarro (1996), Gabriel C. Singson (1998), Delfin L. Lazaro and Henry Sy, Sr. (1999), Oscar M. Lopez (2000), Tony Tan Caktiong (2002), Jesus P. Tambunting (2003), Rafael B. Buenaventura (2004), Manuel V. Pangilinan (2005),
George S. K. Ty and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II (2006), Jose L. Cuisia Jr. (2007), Antonino T. Aquino and Jesus P. Estanislao (2009), Lilia B. de Lima and Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. (2010), Erramon Aboitiz (2011), Aurelio R. Montinola III (2012), Edgar O. Chua (2013), Albert F. del Rosario (2014), Amando M. Tetangco Jr. (2015), Teresita Sy-Coson (2016), John L. Gokongwei Jr. (2017) and Fernando Zobel de Ayala (2018).
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