Career moves

Amherst Securities Group this week hired three mortgage industry veterans to expand its sales division: Peter Davidson, Chris Heaney and Chris O'Neill.

The expansion plans at Foundation Financial Group continue on pace as its founder steps back from the chief executive role and moves more into a strategy and planning position.

CUNA Mutual Group has hired Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Sean Dilweg -- the man responsible for restructuring troubled bond insurer Ambac Securities – to head its mortgage insurance business.

The White House has renominated Peter Diamond as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.

Diane Casey-Landry, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Bankers Association, said she will leave the trade group on March 31.

Mark Ernst began his new position as executive vice president and chief operating officer of financial services technology vendor Fiserv Monday.

The Council of Federal Home Loan Banks has hired former Fannie Mae executive David Jeffers to be its executive vice president of policy and public affairs.

A consultant whose experience has included a stint as a top executive at the company that created the well-known Flip video camera has joined loan origination automation provider Ellie Mae, Pleasanton, Calif.

David DiStaso has been given the title of chief financial officer at iStar Financial Inc., New York. He has been functioning as the company’s principal financial officer since April.

Former Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan, a key regulatory player in the 2008 financial crisis, has accepted a position with the Washington law firm of Covington & Burling.

Radian Guaranty, the nation's third largest mortgage insurer, said it has expanded its sales force with the addition of six local account managers in what it calls "key" locations across the U.S.

The board of Fortress Investment Group LLC has named a replacement for board member and veteran mortgage-backed securities trader Howard Rubin. The company — headed by former Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd — also said it would not pay a fourth-quarter dividend in order to preserve capital.

Peter Monroe, president of the Resolution Trust Corp. Oversight Board in the 1990s, this week launched a new venture to manage troubled Florida commercial properties.

C-BASS founders Bruce Williams and Saul Sanders have formed a new company with the working title of 'Shellpoint' to purchase and securitize jumbo residential loans, industry sources confirmed to National Mortgage News.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta on Thursday named W. Wesley McMullan as its new president and chief executive.

CityView, an institutional investment firm focused on urban real estate, in-city housing, and metropolitan infrastructure based in Los Angeles, has hired Mark Beisswanger as managing director and executive vice president. In his new role, he will be in charge of all asset management for the company's three housing funds and will also seek new opportunities for CityView's investment vehicles.

Outgoing House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank sharply criticized incoming chairman Rep. Spencer Bachus on Wednesday, ridiculing the Alabama Republican for reportedly saying "Washington and the regulators are there to serve the banks."

The Treasury Department on Wednesday unveiled three hires for key positions in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, including the naming of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to be its first enforcement chief.

The Senate Banking Committee Tuesday afternoon approved the nomination of Joseph Smith to be the next director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency by a 16-6 vote -- but several Republicans are planning to delay his confirmation by the full Senate.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency this week announced changes to its large bank supervision team.