Mr. Necisto U. Sytengco has been an exemplar of excellence in his long career in enterprise building. His work principles of proper preparation, effective execution and continuous improvement have allowed him to maximize opportunities that others would have missed. Affectionately called Nestor by his friends, his professional life began at the tender age of 17 with the sudden death of a family member, which thrust upon him the enormous responsibility of running the family insurance business. Unperturbed by his own youth, he saw this as an opportunity to improve the business. Growing and sustaining the insurance brokerage enabled him to gain the necessary tools that would guide his subsequent ventures.
In the 1970s, encouraged by his experience in the insurance business, Nestor set his sights on creating something new, particularly in chemicals and electronics spare-parts trading. Setting up this undertaking presented the major challenge of finding a credit line to fund this business. Nestor was unabashed as he reached out to various friends and contacts, where he occasionally received responses of rejection. Steeling his heart, he forged ahead until he found willing guarantors and the initial funds he needed to start the business.
The establishment of SBS Merchandising as a trading company in Sta. Cruz, Manila over 40 years ago became a watershed experience for Nestor, paving the way for subsequent growth and expansion. The growing need for electronics spare-parts and chemicals among local and foreign-owned integrators and manufacturers validated Nestor’s efforts, as both the industry and the trading business grew steadily through the years.
Striking the iron while it was hot, Nestor did not idly wait for opportunity. He set up dedicated and strategic distribution and warehousing facilities to better manage the flow of materials, gain economies of scale and secure a more leveraged cost structure. This aggressive preparation contributed to a distinct competitive advantage as it allowed SBS Merchandising to purchase at larger volumes, effectively enabling it to take advantage of volume pricing while expanding its range of products at the same time. Looking back at his experience, Nestor shares that “to move in step with the ever-growing and globally connected economy and market, it was essential to further strengthen our business and improve our competitive position for the continued growth and future success of the business.”
Through the years, Nestor’s exceptional talent at recognizing what clients needed allowed the company to build strong supplier-customer relationships with many leading manufacturers. The company expanded to serve the chemical requirements of high-growth markets such as food ingredients, agricultural and animal feed raw materials, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, and veterinary care. The growth and success of the company led to SBS Philippines Corporation going public in August 2015. To date, the company has a present market capitalization of Php 10.5 billion and distributes more than 3,000 products that are warehoused in five locations around Metro Manila, serving well over a thousand companies and individuals.
Nestor has not been resting on his laurels. Riding the emerging property market, he has also steadily and methodically engaged in land banking in various parts of the country. His unique combination of foresight and insight into the real estate market has led him to acquire prime properties ahead of the curve. “We are working to transform the company beyond its core business of chemical distribution towards more diversified business interests,” he shares with his team, “so that we can create value for our shareholders and stay ahead.” Buoyed by his successful foray into real estate, Nestor has also established a holding company under SBS Holdings and Enterprises Corporation, a subsidiary of SBS Philippines Corporation, further diversifying how his company can serve its stakeholders.
“Despite all his success, Nestor remains modest and even seems to be unaware of the scale of what he has accomplished. His children talk about how Nestor would jokingly refer to his nervousness before every big business transaction—holding out his hands and showing them how shaky these were. At heart, Nestor’s humble disposition challenges us with his core belief that we should always be better prepared, and that there is more that each of us can do to see through the successful execution of whatever we prepare for. ”
Despite all his success, Nestor remains modest and even seems to be unaware of the scale of what he has accomplished. His children talk about how Nestor would jokingly refer to his nervousness before every big business transaction—holding out his hands and showing them how shaky these were. At heart, Nestor’s humble disposition challenges us with his core belief that we should always be better prepared, and that there is more that each of us can do to see through the successful execution of whatever we prepare for.
This philosophy has been a beacon of light to the rest of the corporation where Nestor leads as Chairman. He often encourages his employees to work as if the company belonged to them; to work on maintaining a standard of excellence at all times; to be motivated by a constant need to improve, to grow, and be better at serving one’s customers. He believes that all problems has appropriate solutions, and continually motivates everyone in the company to persevere in finding those solutions. Nestor’s personal value system has positively formed a company culture of constant improvement amidst business climates that are constantly changing. “In a world wherein everything is fast-paced being just in time is not enough,” he says. There is a need, he adds, “to accelerate our transformation towards the future so that we can reach new heights.”
While Nestor is certainly adept at recognizing business opportunities, he has also been gifted at taking on humanitarian ones. He established Sytengco Foundation, Inc. to address various needs in the communities the corporation operates in. The foundation has three pillars, addressing Health, Education and Environment. The foundation regularly organizes free medical clinics in the communities around his offices and warehouses. The foundation also donates generously to government hospitals such as the Philippine General Hospital, as well as to programs of the Philippine Cancer Society. Scholarships are also continuously given to students admitted to seminary program for priesthood, and to students living in the community where the Sytengco Group is and to students of Mapua Institute of Technology, which is the alma mater of Nestor. The foundation also sponsors regular tree-planting activities in order to help educate its communities about the importance of preserving the environment. In addition, the foundation regularly donates through NGO organizations for disaster relief efforts in the Philippines and abroad.
The journey is far from over for Nestor, who sees himself continually taking an active role towards streamlining the company’s business processes so as to be more prepared to seize emerging opportunities. Living by the core beliefs that have guided him in business and in humanitarian work, Nestor will ensure that SBS Philippines Corporation, and the Sytengco Group of Companies, continues to enjoy massive success in the company’s various efforts. By maintaining a standard of excellence and innovation, the corporation has consistently developed—and will continue to ensure— mutually beneficial and long-term relationships with all its partners.
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Necisto U. Sytengco
Chairman
Mr. Necisto U. Sytengco has been an exemplar of excellence in his long career in enterprise building. His work principles of proper preparation, effective execution and continuous improvement have allowed him to maximize opportunities that others would have missed. Affectionately called Nestor by his friends, his professional life began at the tender age of 17 with the sudden death of a family member, which thrust upon him the enormous responsibility of running the family insurance business. Unperturbed by his own youth, he saw this as an opportunity to improve the business. Growing and sustaining the insurance brokerage enabled him to gain the necessary tools that would guide his subsequent ventures.
In the 1970s, encouraged by his experience in the insurance business, Nestor set his sights on creating something new, particularly in chemicals and electronics spare-parts trading. Setting up this undertaking presented the major challenge of finding a credit line to fund this business. Nestor was unabashed as he reached out to various friends and contacts, where he occasionally received responses of rejection. Steeling his heart, he forged ahead until he found willing guarantors and the initial funds he needed to start the business.
The establishment of SBS Merchandising as a trading company in Sta. Cruz, Manila over 40 years ago became a watershed experience for Nestor, paving the way for subsequent growth and expansion. The growing need for electronics spare-parts and chemicals among local and foreign-owned integrators and manufacturers validated Nestor’s efforts, as both the industry and the trading business grew steadily through the years.
Striking the iron while it was hot, Nestor did not idly wait for opportunity. He set up dedicated and strategic distribution and warehousing facilities to better manage the flow of materials, gain economies of scale and secure a more leveraged cost structure. This aggressive preparation contributed to a distinct competitive advantage as it allowed SBS Merchandising to purchase at larger volumes, effectively enabling it to take advantage of volume pricing while expanding its range of products at the same time. Looking back at his experience, Nestor shares that “to move in step with the ever-growing and globally connected economy and market, it was essential to further strengthen our business and improve our competitive position for the continued growth and future success of the business.”
Through the years, Nestor’s exceptional talent at recognizing what clients needed allowed the company to build strong supplier-customer relationships with many leading manufacturers. The company expanded to serve the chemical requirements of high-growth markets such as food ingredients, agricultural and animal feed raw materials, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, and veterinary care. The growth and success of the company led to SBS Philippines Corporation going public in August 2015. To date, the company has a present market capitalization of Php 10.5 billion and distributes more than 3,000 products that are warehoused in five locations around Metro Manila, serving well over a thousand companies and individuals.
Nestor has not been resting on his laurels. Riding the emerging property market, he has also steadily and methodically engaged in land banking in various parts of the country. His unique combination of foresight and insight into the real estate market has led him to acquire prime properties ahead of the curve. “We are working to transform the company beyond its core business of chemical distribution towards more diversified business interests,” he shares with his team, “so that we can create value for our shareholders and stay ahead.” Buoyed by his successful foray into real estate, Nestor has also established a holding company under SBS Holdings and Enterprises Corporation, a subsidiary of SBS Philippines Corporation, further diversifying how his company can serve its stakeholders.
“Despite all his success, Nestor remains modest and even seems to be unaware of the scale of what he has accomplished. His children talk about how Nestor would jokingly refer to his nervousness before every big business transaction—holding out his hands and showing them how shaky these were. At heart, Nestor’s humble disposition challenges us with his core belief that we should always be better prepared, and that there is more that each of us can do to see through the successful execution of whatever we prepare for. ”
Despite all his success, Nestor remains modest and even seems to be unaware of the scale of what he has accomplished. His children talk about how Nestor would jokingly refer to his nervousness before every big business transaction—holding out his hands and showing them how shaky these were. At heart, Nestor’s humble disposition challenges us with his core belief that we should always be better prepared, and that there is more that each of us can do to see through the successful execution of whatever we prepare for.
This philosophy has been a beacon of light to the rest of the corporation where Nestor leads as Chairman. He often encourages his employees to work as if the company belonged to them; to work on maintaining a standard of excellence at all times; to be motivated by a constant need to improve, to grow, and be better at serving one’s customers. He believes that all problems has appropriate solutions, and continually motivates everyone in the company to persevere in finding those solutions. Nestor’s personal value system has positively formed a company culture of constant improvement amidst business climates that are constantly changing. “In a world wherein everything is fast-paced being just in time is not enough,” he says. There is a need, he adds, “to accelerate our transformation towards the future so that we can reach new heights.”
While Nestor is certainly adept at recognizing business opportunities, he has also been gifted at taking on humanitarian ones. He established Sytengco Foundation, Inc. to address various needs in the communities the corporation operates in. The foundation has three pillars, addressing Health, Education and Environment. The foundation regularly organizes free medical clinics in the communities around his offices and warehouses. The foundation also donates generously to government hospitals such as the Philippine General Hospital, as well as to programs of the Philippine Cancer Society. Scholarships are also continuously given to students admitted to seminary program for priesthood, and to students living in the community where the Sytengco Group is and to students of Mapua Institute of Technology, which is the alma mater of Nestor. The foundation also sponsors regular tree-planting activities in order to help educate its communities about the importance of preserving the environment. In addition, the foundation regularly donates through NGO organizations for disaster relief efforts in the Philippines and abroad.
The journey is far from over for Nestor, who sees himself continually taking an active role towards streamlining the company’s business processes so as to be more prepared to seize emerging opportunities. Living by the core beliefs that have guided him in business and in humanitarian work, Nestor will ensure that SBS Philippines Corporation, and the Sytengco Group of Companies, continues to enjoy massive success in the company’s various efforts. By maintaining a standard of excellence and innovation, the corporation has consistently developed—and will continue to ensure— mutually beneficial and long-term relationships with all its partners.