Unicapital Inc., one of the Philippines’ leading independent investment houses, has appointed Karen Singson, a former finance undersecretary as its new managing director.

Singson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Harvard Business School graduate, brings more than two decades of experience spanning global finance, high-level government service, and financial technology—an integrated view the firm aims to leverage for market expansion.

Her career foundation was forged in global finance centers, including roles at the investment banking arm of Swiss Re and in the equity research group at Morgan Stanley in New York.

She also held buy-side responsibilities covering Global Financials at The Boston Company Asset Management before serving as Vice President for Philippine coverage at Macquarie Capital, where she focused on capital markets and M&A advisory.

Singson’s public sector tenure included positions as chief privatization officer and later as Department of Finance (DOF) undersecretary of Finance.

During this period, she advised on deals, notably the restructuring of United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) and the recapitalization of Hanjin Shipyard, which secured a $300 million investment from Cerberus Capital.

“Unicapital has a legacy of trusted execution. Our opportunity now is to broaden our origination pipeline by using technology to help more companies scale their vision,” Singson said in a statement.

She noted that Philippine businesses require partners who can effectively “bridge local dynamics with global capital environments.”

According to Unicapital, Singson will focus on three pillars designed to sharpen the firm’s competitive edge: expanded market access, process modernization, and elevated advisory.

Expanded market access involves deepening engagement with international investors to create new pathways for local companies to tap into larger and more diverse capital pools.

Process modernization means integrating digital tools and data-driven solutions across the deal cycle—from origination and pipeline management through closing—to improve transparency and shorten turnaround times.

Finally, elevated advisory moves beyond traditional capital raising to provide higher-value guidance in complex areas, including deal structuring, governance, valuation, and long-term exit planning.

“My focus is on bringing institutional-grade advisory and access to capital to the entrepreneurs and companies that power the Philippine economy,” Singson stated.