Career moves

Former Freddie Mac chairman and CEO Richard Syron recently received a 'Wells Notice' from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which means the agency is considering filing civil charges against him related to his management of company.

While change at the top of the Mortgage Bankers Association was expected eventually, the trade group's board didn't think it would happen this quickly.

For at least his first year as head of the Mortgage Bankers Association, David Stevens will be barred from lobbying the federal agency that matters most to many of the trade group's members: the one he's leaving, the Federal Housing Administration.

The Mortgage Bankers Association Tuesday afternoon confirmed that it has hired Federal Housing Administration commissioner David Stevens to head the organization, effective June 1.

KW Properties Group, a division of international real estate investment and services company Kennedy Wilson, said that Brett Raskin has joined the company as a managing director.

Former Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd, who oversaw the GSE's huge expansion into nonprime investing and securitization, late last week received a "Wells Notice" from the Securities and Exchange Commission, indicating that he may face civil charges for allegedly misleading investors about the company's financial condition.

Larry Goldstone, once a top player in the jumbo and "super" jumbo market through his now defunct firm Thornburg Mortgage, is trying for a comeback in the business.

Federal Housing commissioner David Stevens, a driving force not just at HUD but as an advisor to the White House on housing policies, is leaving the agency in mid-April, National Mortgage News has learned.

Chase has hired eight mortgage professionals with a combined 96 years of experience to support its Newark, Del., office as the mega-bank further expands its borrower outreach efforts.

First American Title Insurance Co. appointed Steven Rogers president and managing director of its New York division. In addition, he has been named a senior vice president of First American Title Insurance Co.

Helios AMC, a specialty servicer of defaulted commercial real estate loans and other debt, this week hired industry veteran Keith Johnson as its chief executive effective immediately

Total Mortgage Services LLC, Milford, Conn., this week promoted retail/wholesale underwriting manager Erik Martin to the newly created post of national sales manager for its retail channel.

RealtyTrac hired Brian Walby as Vice President of Sales and Strategic Alliances.In this role, Walby will focus on member subscription sales, advertising sales, lead generation programs and product sales.

PHH Corp., Mt. Laurel, N.J., reported net earnings of $181 million for the fourth quarter and $48 million for the full year 2010, helped by strong performance in its mortgage segment, company executives said.

Michael McGrath, the disgraced former president of U.S. Mortgage Corp. and its CU National Mortgage unit, was sentenced late Thursday to 14 years behind bars for a massive fraud in which he sold $140 million of CU mortgages his company was servicing to Fannie Mae and kept the proceeds.

Freddie Mac late Thursday said Donald J. Bisenius, executive vice president of its single-family credit guarantee business, received a 'Wells Notice,' which means the Securities and Exchange Commission is considering filing civil charges against him.

Federal prosecutors have ended their criminal investigation of former Countrywide Financial chairman and CEO Angelo Mozilo, after deciding that his actions managing the nation's largest lender did not constitute criminal behavior, according to a report in The Los Angeles Times.

The Treasury Department has tapped a former Wall Street managing director to be in charge of the research, markets and regulation arm of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association is getting back in to the multifamily lending business in the New York metropolitan area, starting with hiring away a team from Sovereign Bank led by Gary M. Honstedt.

Bank of America recently hired former Saxon Mortgage CEO Tony Meola as a default servicing executive in its mortgage division.