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Former UnionDigital, Grab Financial, & HSBC executive to scale Tonik's payroll-lending arm
MANILA, Philippines, July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonik Financial, the Philippines' first digital-only bank licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), today announced the appointment of fintech veteran Mike Singh as President of Templetech Inc. ("Tendo"), its SEC-licensed consumer lending subsidiary. Tendo provides salary-deducted credit to employees of leading employers in the Philippines.
Singh succeeds founder Kacper Marcinkowski, who built Tendo into a breakout player in payroll lending and is stepping down to launch his next venture.
Under Marcinkowski's leadership, Tendo onboarded over 300 employers, including Concentrix, the Philippines' largest private employer, and extended instant, affordable credit access to 150,000+ employees. Tendo's loan portfolio has been surging up to 200% year on year since 2022.
Greg Krasnov, Founder & CEO of Tonik Financial:
"Kacper proved that fully digital, responsible payroll lending can scale at startup velocity. We're incredibly grateful for what he's built. As we move into the next phase of expansion, Mike brings the scale mindset we need. His proven track record—driving 10× loan book growth at UnionDigital, scaling new ventures at Grab Financial and AsiaKredit, and building consumer finance businesses in emerging markets for HSBC—uniquely positions him to lead Tendo into its next chapter."
Singh is a recognized leader in mass-market unsecured digital lending, leveraging alternative data to drive credit inclusion. He previously served as Chief Commercial Officer of UnionDigital Bank and led lending and ecosystem partnerships at Grab Financial. He has launched, scaled, and exited multiple fintech and retail ventures in the Philippines, including his most recent digital lending leader, AsiaKredit (which he co-founded w/ Krasnov), to Grab Financial.
In his new role, Singh will:
- Lead Tendo as President, with full P&L ownership.
- Serve as Chief Strategy & Ecosystem Officer of Tonik Group, focused on scaling strategic partnerships and embedded finance.
- Join Tonik's Group Management Board, reporting directly to CEO Greg Krasnov.
He assumed office on 16 June 2025.
Mike Singh:
"Tendo's B2B2C payroll model is redefining mass-market credit in the Philippines. It's a rare platform with deep employer integration and bank-grade rails. I'm excited to build on Kacper's strong foundation and take this to national scale."
Kacper Marcinkowski:
"It's been an incredible journey building Tendo. I leave knowing it's in great hands. Mike's the right leader to scale both impact and ambition."
Former UnionDigital, Grab Financial, & HSBC executive to scale Tonik's payroll-lending arm
MANILA, Philippines, July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonik Financial, the Philippines' first digital-only bank licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), today announced the appointment of fintech veteran Mike Singh as President of Templetech Inc. ("Tendo"), its SEC-licensed consumer lending subsidiary. Tendo provides salary-deducted credit to employees of leading employers in the Philippines.
Singh succeeds founder Kacper Marcinkowski, who built Tendo into a breakout player in payroll lending and is stepping down to launch his next venture.
Under Marcinkowski's leadership, Tendo onboarded over 300 employers, including Concentrix, the Philippines' largest private employer, and extended instant, affordable credit access to 150,000+ employees. Tendo's loan portfolio has been surging up to 200% year on year since 2022.
Greg Krasnov, Founder & CEO of Tonik Financial:
"Kacper proved that fully digital, responsible payroll lending can scale at startup velocity. We're incredibly grateful for what he's built. As we move into the next phase of expansion, Mike brings the scale mindset we need. His proven track record—driving 10× loan book growth at UnionDigital, scaling new ventures at Grab Financial and AsiaKredit, and building consumer finance businesses in emerging markets for HSBC—uniquely positions him to lead Tendo into its next chapter."
Singh is a recognized leader in mass-market unsecured digital lending, leveraging alternative data to drive credit inclusion. He previously served as Chief Commercial Officer of UnionDigital Bank and led lending and ecosystem partnerships at Grab Financial. He has launched, scaled, and exited multiple fintech and retail ventures in the Philippines, including his most recent digital lending leader, AsiaKredit (which he co-founded w/ Krasnov), to Grab Financial.
In his new role, Singh will:
- Lead Tendo as President, with full P&L ownership.
- Serve as Chief Strategy & Ecosystem Officer of Tonik Group, focused on scaling strategic partnerships and embedded finance.
- Join Tonik's Group Management Board, reporting directly to CEO Greg Krasnov.
He assumed office on 16 June 2025.
Mike Singh:
"Tendo's B2B2C payroll model is redefining mass-market credit in the Philippines. It's a rare platform with deep employer integration and bank-grade rails. I'm excited to build on Kacper's strong foundation and take this to national scale."
Kacper Marcinkowski:
"It's been an incredible journey building Tendo. I leave knowing it's in great hands. Mike's the right leader to scale both impact and ambition."
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Tonik Appoints Digital Lending Veteran Mike Singh as President of Tendo
SHANGHAI, June 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gala Night of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) was held in Shanghai today, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences from around the world in celebration of cinema.
Running through June 20, this year's festival will present more than 420 films across over 1,600 screenings in Shanghai and cities throughout the Yangtze River Delta. As one of only 17 film festivals worldwide to hold official A-list classification from FIAPF, SIFF continues to serve as a major platform for international cinematic exchange.
The winners of the Golden Goblet Awards will be announced at the Golden Goblet Awards Ceremony of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 20.
A Night of Cinema Along the Huangpu River
The Gala Night transformed Shanghai into a vibrant stage for global cinema, welcoming filmmakers, actors and industry professionals from around the world. Golden Goblet Awards jurors, nominated filmmakers and representatives of major Chinese and international productions gathered on the red carpet, showcasing the festival's growing international profile and influence.
One of the evening's most significant moments was the presentation of the festival's honorary awards. Renowned actress and cultural ambassador Lisa Lu received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award, recognizing their exceptional achievements and enduring contributions to the development of cinema.
The celebration once again highlighted Shanghai's unique role as a city where cinema, culture and international exchange converge.
Opening Film Afterpiece Makes World Premiere
This year's opening film, Afterpiece, made its world premiere as one of the festival's most anticipated events. Directed by Keane T.K. Wong and produced by Derek Yee, the film stars Stephen Fung, Chrissie Chau, Myolie Wu and Angela Yuen. The story follows a once-celebrated theatre director seeking creative redemption while navigating the increasingly blurred boundaries between performance and reality.
Developed under a Hong Kong film mentorship initiative pairing established filmmakers with emerging directors, Afterpiece reflects the continued transmission of creative talent across generations in Hong Kong cinema.
Members of the cast and creative team attended the Gala Night and participated in audience activities following the premiere screening.
International Jury Reflects Global Vision
Members of the Golden Goblet Awards jury met with the media in Shanghai ahead of this year's festival activities, representing filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world.
The seven-member Main Competition jury is chaired by acclaimed actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai and includes Chinese director Guan Hu, actress Xin Zhilei, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Kyrgyz director Aktan Arym Kubat, Georgian filmmaker Déa Kulumbegashvili and Mexican director Fernanda Valadez.
"It is a great honor to serve as jury president of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival. Cinema is the art of dreaming, and Shanghai is the very vessel on which the Chinese film dream set sail. I hold a few more tickets for this voyage—would you like to join me?" said Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
The jury's diverse composition reflects SIFF's longstanding commitment to fostering dialogue among filmmakers from different cultures and creative traditions.
A Truly Global Stage for Cinema
This year, SIFF received approximately 4,100 submissions from 125 countries and regions, setting a new record in the festival's history. Among nearly 3,000 eligible entries, 82 percent are world or international premieres, underscoring the festival's growing global influence and appeal.
Audience enthusiasm remained strong, with online ticket sales launching on June 5 and 250,000 tickets sold within the first 15 minutes.
Beyond screenings, SIFF continues to promote international collaboration through initiatives including SIFF PROJECT, the International Film & TV Market, industry forums and masterclasses. The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, initiated by SIFF, now includes 57 member institutions from 50 countries, further strengthening cooperation among film communities worldwide.
Chen Guo, Managing Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Events Center, said: "Our goal is to use the festival platform to help films transcend geographic, linguistic and cultural boundaries, encouraging deeper cultural dialogue and creative exchange among filmmakers and audiences from different parts of the world."
The International Film & TV Market will be held during the festival period, bringing together exhibitors, industry organizations and professionals from around the world to explore new opportunities in content creation, technological innovation and international cooperation.
For more information and the full festival schedule, please visit the official SIFF website at https://www.siff.com/english/
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Gala Night of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival Held in Shanghai
