Career moves

Wells Fargo & Co.'s chief financial officer, Howard Atkins, has resigned for personal reasons, the megabank announced late Tuesday. He was immediately succeeded by Wells' chief administrative officer, Timothy Sloan.

Partner Engineering and Science Inc. named Eric Correia as technical director of Fannie Mae Services.Correia, who joined the firm’s San Diego office in August 2010 as a project manager, will serve as the primary resource for Partner’s lender clients, technical staff and project managers throughout the United States.

People's United Bank, Bridgeport, Conn., late last week confirmed that warehouse lending veteran Paul Best has joined the publicly traded thrift as a senior vice president in its commercial division.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Friday named Michael Krimminger, a close aide to Chairman Sheila Bair, as the agency's new general counsel.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is creating specialized risk teams to participate in the examinations of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks as part of a major overhaul of the entire agency.

Veteran mortgage-backed securities researcher Dale Westhoff, well known in the industry for his short-term prepayment forecasts, has joined Credit Suisse as global head of structured products research.

Now that the President's first pick to be the new GSE regulator has bowed out due to Republican opposition, the White House will likely appoint an administration official who has already been confirmed by the Senate to run the agency.

Harris Financial has hired Kevin Christopher to be director of mortgage sales. He will be responsible for leading the Harris mortgage team in its internal collaboration, service and sales capabilities to contribute to the bank's overall strategy.

SettlementOne, San Diego, a holding company with interests in credit data and appraisal management, recently named Joe Bryant national sales manager.

Total Mortgage Services, LLC, a fast growing nonbank based in Connecticut, on Tuesday announced that it has hired former Bank of America vice president Lisa Schreiber to head its wholesale division.

MetLife Bank has hired former Bear Stearns and Ohio Savings executive Jess Lederman as a top executive in its residential correspondent lending division, according to mortgage officials who received a notification from the industry veteran.

Treliant Risk Advisors, Washington, said it has hired former Deputy Comptroller of the Currency Jo Ann Barefoot as vice chairman of the firm.

Morgan Stanley & Co. late Thursday named Ken deRegt head of fixed income sales and trading, replacing Jack DiMaio, who is leaving the firm.

Rick Beckwitt has been promoted to president of Lennar Corp., replacing Stuart Miller, who retains the chief executive title. He had been the executive vice president.

Fortress Investment Group LLC named managing director and securitized portfolio products manager Greg Finck to head a newly created mortgage and ABS portfolio strategies team within the firm's asset management unit

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.