The Philippine Institute of Certified Accountants (PICPA), the accredited professional organization of certified public accountants (CPAs), recently named SM Investments Chairman Emeritus Jose T. Sio as an Honorary Life Member.
Mr. Sio was recognized for “over 20 years of continued, dedicated service to the institution as highlighted by outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions to the advancement of the profession and active involvement in various accounting and professional organizations.”
“I am honored by this recognition from fellow professionals in the field. Accountancy plays a significant role in the growth and integrity of many Philippine businesses, helping build the trust and confidence of company stockholders. I am privileged to be part of organizations, like the SM group, that views the field as a crucial part of the company’s growth journey,” Mr. Sio said.
Previously, Mr. Sio was also given the Accountancy Centenary Award of Excellence in 2023 and the Parangal San Mateo in 2022, the highest honor that can be conferred upon an accounting professional.
Hailing from Iloilo, Mr. Sio earned a degree in Commerce, majoring in Accounting from the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City. He also completed his master’s degree in Business Administration from New York University in the US.
Mr. Sio also served as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) in 1990, and later on Chairman of the Board for SM Investments in 2017. During Mr. Sio’s tenure as CFO at SM Investments, he received multiple awards from various publications and organizations including a “CFO Superstar in Asia award from a New York-based publication in 1997, CFO of the Year from ING Bank and the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines in 2009, CFO of the Year (Philippines) from Hong Kong-based The Asset magazine in 2010, and one of the Best CFO at the Finance Asia Awards in 2011.”
Concurrent with his role as Chairman Emeritus at SM Investments, Mr. Sio is also a Director at China Banking Corporation, Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation, and NLEX Corporation. He also currently serves as a Board Adviser at BDO Unibank, and Chairman and President of SM Foundation, Inc. Mr. Sio is also a Trustee at Far Eastern University Incorporated and Asia Pacific College.
He was also instrumental in the public listing of SM Investments that allowed the company to expand and grow. SM Investments’ initial public offering (IPO) in 2005 achieved and held the largest IPO in the Philippine stock market for 15 years from 2005 to 2020, and the second domestic publicly listed company to have a P1 trillion market capitalization.
