Unicapital, Inc., one of the country’s leading independent investment houses, announced the appointment of Karen Singson as its new Managing Director. The strategic hire signals Unicapital’s commitment to accelerating its regional competitiveness and modernizing its operations by leveraging technology to better serve the expanding needs of Philippine businesses.
Ms. Singson brings over two decades of distinguished experience spanning global finance, government service, and financial technology. Her unique background is seen as critical to bridging local market dynamics with global capital environments.
A CFA charterholder and Harvard Business School graduate, Singson began her career in New York at the investment banking arm of Swiss Re and in the equity research group at Morgan Stanley, followed by buy-side experience at The Boston Company Asset Management.
Locally, her high-impact roles included serving as Chief Privatization Officer and later as Undersecretary of Finance. During her public-sector tenure, she advised on landmark deals, including the recapitalization of United Coconut Planters Bank and the restructuring of Hanjin Shipyard, which secured a significant $300 million investment. In investment banking, she served as Vice President for Philippine coverage at Macquarie Capital.
“Unicapital has a legacy of trusted execution,” said Karen Singson. “Our opportunity now is to broaden our origination pipeline by using technology to help more companies scale their vision. I am bringing an integrated view of how capital, governance, and innovation can accelerate growth. My focus is on bringing institutional-grade advisory and access to capital to the entrepreneurs and companies that power the Philippine economy.”
Ms. Singson’s leadership will focus on three strategic pillars designed to enhance the firm’s competitive advantage:
Expanding Global Market Access: Deepening engagement with international investors to create more pathways for Philippine businesses to tap into larger, more diverse pools of capital.
Modernizing Internal Processes: Integrating digital tools and data-driven solutions throughout the entire deal cycle—from origination to closing—to shorten turnaround times, improve transparency, and deliver a smoother client experience.
Elevating Advisory Capabilities: Moving beyond traditional capital raising to become a comprehensive partner, providing high-value guidance in complex areas like deal structuring, valuation, governance, and long-term exit planning.
Ms. Singson will also place a strong emphasis on talent development, aiming to cultivate teams that “think analytically, independently, and execute decisively.”
