Insider Spotlight
The strategy gained regional recognition after Hong Kong-based publication Corporate Governance Asia conferred 24 awards on the SM Group during the 16th Asian Excellence Awards, recognizing achievements in governance, sustainability, investor relations, and corporate leadership.
SM Investments Corp., the group's parent company, received eight awards, including the Sustainable Asia Award, Asia’s Best CSR, Best Corporate Communications, and Best Investor Relations.
Its banking arm, BDO Unibank, received nine awards, while property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. earned seven recognitions, reflecting governance practices across the conglomerate’s major business segments.
SM Investments president and chief executive officer Frederic C. DyBuncio was named Asia’s Best CEO (Investor Relations). Executive vice presidents Erwin G. Pato and Franklin C. Gomez were recognized as co-awardees for Asia’s Best CFO (Investor Relations), while Timothy Daniels, consultant and head of investor relations and sustainability, was cited as Best Investor Relations Professional.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from Corporate Governance Asia. Governance and sustainability remain embedded in how we operate, helping strengthen resilience, support disciplined decision-making, and enable long-term value creation for our various stakeholders,” DyBuncio said.
Why it matters
Companies across Asia are facing a more complex operating landscape marked by market volatility, geopolitical shifts, and increasing climate-related challenges, placing greater emphasis on governance standards and investor engagement.
The awards were presented during the 16th Asian Excellence Awards, themed “Reshaping Asian Leadership in a Changing Global Economic Landscape and Climate Change.” Corporate Governance Asia is a regional publication covering corporate governance, sustainability, investor relations, and boardroom leadership.
The bottom line
The latest recognition underscores how SM continues to position governance, sustainability, and investor confidence as competitive advantages while expanding across retail, banking, property, and other high-growth sectors of the Philippine economy. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
