Purisima receives Northwestern alumni merit award

MANILA, Philippines - Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima was the Alumni Merit awardee for the Kellogg Graduate School of Management in the 2014 Northwestern University Alumni Awards. 

Having finished his MBA in Kellogg in 1983, Purisima was recognized together with 10 other Northwestern alumni for his high achievement as “Finance Minister of the Year” in the last four years by Euromoney, London-based Emerging Markets and The Banker, a subsidiary of Financial Times, along with the successful fiscal reforms he instituted under the administration of President Aquino. Likewise, he was also lauded for being the first and only Filipino thus far to head an area practice of a “Big 4”, when he became an area managing partner for the Asia-Pacific region for assurance and business services, prior to his stint in government.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Northwestern University for this distinction. Kellogg is where I have learned the various tools and frameworks which have guided me in formulating key policy decisions, especially in my current responsibility as secretary of finance. This award is another testament that the good governance agenda under the leadership of President Aquino is highly regarded by our peers from around the world,” Purisima said.

Among this year’s awardees was Cody Keenan, a 2002 graduate of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, who was honored with the 2014 Emerging Leader Award for his notable contribution as assistant to the President of the United States and director of speechwriting at the White House.

The top award of the ceremony, the Alumni Medal, was given to Dennis H. Chookaszian, retired chairman and CEO of CNA Insurance Companies and a university life trustee.

The Northwestern Alumni Association has held this yearly event which recognizes outstanding individuals in the fields of business, economics, law, medicine, sciences, arts, and philanthropy since 1932.

Purisima is the first Filipino awardee from Kellogg, and among the first Filipinos to receive such a distinction from the University.