SM Supermall president Steven Tan embraces change, and this willingness to adjust to shifting trends and evolving needs characterises his leadership. Tan was appointed president of the enterprise just as COVID-19 came roaring into the country, yet he made sure that SM Supermalls continued to loom large in consumers' collective consciousness.

For his efforts to recover and sustain SM Supermalls’ revenue, occupancy and foot-traffic targets amid the global health crisis, Tan was named the Global Filipino Executive of the Year in the 2022 Asian CEO Awards. “We are simply people helping other people, and giving back to our communities has always been a part of SM’s mission and DNA,” he said in his speech.

Tan’s dedication to nation-building is evident in the projects he has taken part in. On August 18, 2023, the businessman joined Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia in signing a memorandum of agreement for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections mall voting. This initiative allows more than 8,000 registered Filipinos to vote in participating SM branches, including SM City Manila, SM City North Edsa, SM City Sucat, SM City Legazpi in Albay, and SM City Consolacion in Cebu.

Tan is set to add new malls to the chain and has initiated the redevelopment of several existing establishments for a more enhanced and satisfying customer experience. In 2023, he announced plans to build two more malls—one in Batangas and another in Laguna—as part of local expansion efforts. Furthermore, SM is looking to build five malls in the Philippines in 2024.