Former Secretary of Finance

Cesar Purisima, who served as Secretary of Finance of the Philippines and the chairman of Economic Development, was named Finance Minister of the Year seven times in six consecutive years by various international institutions such as Emerging Markets, FinanceAsia, Euromoney and the Banker. Prior to his work in the government, he served as chairman and managing partner of the country’s largest professional services firm, Sycip Gorres Velayo (SGV) & Co., and as managing partner for Asia-Pacific for assurance and business services of Andersen Worldwide. Cesar was also a member of the global executive board of Ernst & Young Global. He graduated from De La Salle University with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and majored in Accounting and Management of Financial Institutions. He subsequently topped the licensure examinations for Certified Public Accountants that same year. He completed his MBA in International Economics, Finance, and Marketing at Northwestern University in 1983.