THE IFC (International Finance Corp.), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank, has secured a seat in the board of Banco De Oro Unibank, Inc. (BDO) effective Sept. 25, 2010.

Subject to confirmation by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), BDO said IFC representative Farida Khambata has been elected a director of its board. Ms. Khambata is currently a partner of Cartica Capital and provides management consulting services to Cartica Management,focusing mainly on global investment strategy. Before joining Cartica, she was IFC's regional vice president heading IFC's operations in East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa, where she was responsible for the corporation's strategy, financial products, and advisory services in member countries of these regions. She holds post-graduate degrees in Economics and Business Management from Cambridge University and the London Business School.

Christopher A. Bell-Knight, who has been with BDO for a number of years and has a reputable knowledge in the banking sector, was named an adviser to the board.