Ben Chan (Filipino businessman)

Chan Tian Siu,[1] commonly known as Ben Chan, is a Filipino businessman who is known for establishing the clothing store chain Bench.

Career

Ben Chan started his own T-shirt store business in 1987 that eventually became Bench managed under the family-owned Suyen Corporation.[2][3] Bench is a contraction of Chan's own name.[2]

In 2014, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[4]

Chan promotes the terno, selling the clothing apparel in his store. Suyen is a partner of the Ternocon convention and competition.[5]

He also introduced Italian furniture brands in the Philippines such as Cappellini and Foscarini which led to him being conferred the Order of the Star of Italy in 2019.[1]

Personal life

Chan is a Chinese Filipino who has roots from Fujian. He is not Cantonese.[2] He was born to Chan Lib and See Ying who emigrated to the Philippines.[6]

His parents established Liwayway Marketing as a supplier of starch, flour and coffee. His brother, Carlos would expand the family business to include snack foods founding Liwayway Marketing China a company which produces Oishi products. Chan himself would learn interior design in San Francisco before going on to establish his own clothing brand in the Philippines.[2]