Maria Carmen Benitez currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at UnionDigital Bank, a role she has held since June 2022. In this capacity, she spearheads risk management initiatives to uphold the bank's stability and regulatory compliance in the Philippines. Prior to her CRO position, Maria held the role of ERM - Risk Review Head at UnionBank of the Philippines for six years and five months, from February 2016 to June 2022. During this time, she implemented robust risk assessment frameworks to mitigate potential threats to the bank's operations. Preceding her tenure at UnionBank, Maria served as Senior Vice President and Head of GTO Governance & Controls at Standard Chartered Bank for two years, from January 2014 to December 2015, based in Makati. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing governance and controls within the Global Technology & Operations division, ensuring streamlined and compliant processes. With her extensive experience across these roles, Maria brings a wealth of expertise in risk management and governance to her current position at UnionDigital Bank.