Freddie Mac, Guaranteed Rate, Loandepot add, promote leaders

October 6, 2023 8:00 AM

Loandepot appoints mortgage veteran Dan Hanson to new executive role

National lender and servicer Loandepot tapped Dan Hanson for the newly created position of executive director of enterprise partnerships and acquisitions. With a mortgage career spanning decades, Hanson first joined the Irvine, California-based company in 2011, previously holding the title of executive director of in-market production.

In his new role, Hanson will seek new opportunities for sustainable revenue and growth, including through new acquisitions and referral relationships, while also working with senior executives to increase Loandepot's programs and partnerships with other businesses.

MBA adds George Rogers for leading advocacy position

The Mortgage Bankers Association recently named attorney and government expert George Rogers as vice president of legislative affairs. Rogers joins the Washington-based trade association from Republic Consulting, a government relations and lobby firm he helped found in 2019. He previously served as CEO of Wexler and Walker and also as an advisor on Senate confirmation strategy for the 2017 presidential transition team.

In his role with the MBA, Rogers will push forward the association's legislative and policy priorities on Capitol Hill, focusing on his relationships with Republican members of the United States Senate.

Freddie Mac promotes Peter Lillestolen to multifamily vice president role

Government-sponsored enterprise Freddie Mac recently elevated Peter Lillestolen to vice president, production and sales of targeted affordable housing in its multifamily division. Since joining the housing finance agency's multifamily business, Lillestolen has served as an analyst in capital markets and in various leadership roles on the production team. More recently, he was in charge of Freddie Mac low-income housing tax credit equity and seniors housing businesses.

In his new position, Lillestolen will be in charge of the targeted affordable housing retail business, in addition to LIHTC equity, structured transactions and seniors housing.

The Money Store adds Guaranteed Rate alum John Palmiotto to C-suite

Direct lender The Money Store recently welcomed John Palmiotto as chief production officer. Palmiotto's sales leadership background includes tenures as midstates divisional president at Prospect Mortgage and, more recently, as chief of retail production at Guaranteed Rate. In his new role, Palmiotto will help lead teams to drive the Florham Park, New Jersey-based company's growth and innovation strategies.

Guaranteed Rate taps Ryan Ogata to lead reverse mortgage division

National lender Guaranteed Rate appointed Ryan Ogata as executive vice president of reverse mortgage lending. Based on the West Coast, Ogata joined the Chicago-based lender in 2017 and recently served as divisional manager for the region. He also previously held the role of regional manager for Northern California.

Ogata will be responsible for ramping up growth of its reverse mortgage products, educating older homeowners on their potential benefits in financial planning.

Snapdocs elevates Michael Sachdev to CEO

Digital-closing software provider Snapdocs announced the promotion of Michael Sachdev from president to CEO. Sachdev succeeds company founder Aaron King, who will become executive chairman of the Denver-based technology company.

As CEO, Sachdev will be responsible for all operational aspects and business strategy under oversight of the Snapdocs board. He first joined the company as president in 2021 after previously serving as chief product officer at solar energy firm Sunrun following an earlier law career.

Alterra Home Loans appoints Fernando Ospina to president

Las Vegas-based national lender Alterra Home Loans announced the promotion of Fernando Ospina to president. Ospina rises from his prior role as senior vice president of national production and has held other management positions at Alterra since joining in 2018. As president, Ospina will be responsible for the strategic direction, operations and growth developments for the minority-owned lender, which specializes in home finance solutions for the Hispanic market and underserved communities.

Dovenmuehle names Robert Howerton chief information officer

Mortgage subservicer Dovenmuehle hired technology expert Robert Howerton as chief information officer. As CIO, Howerton will be in charge of maintaining and growing the Lake Zurich, Illinois-based firm's information technology infrastructure.

With a background working in cloud solutions, development, infrastructure data centers and automation strategy, Howerton has held technology leadership positions at a range of businesses, including Mr. Cooper, Santander Consumer USA and The Kraft Heinz Co. More recently, he was leader platform security engineer at IBM.

National MI welcomes Lesley Alli, Andrew Greenberg as senior VPs

Left to right: Lesley Alli, Andrew Greenberg

NMI Holdings, the Emeryville, California-based parent company of National Mortgage Insurance Corp., appointed housing and financial industry leaders Lesley Alli and Andrew Greenberg to senior vice president roles and members of its executive committee. Alli takes over the position of senior vice president, industry relations and corporate communications, where she will oversee the company's outreach efforts to the public and stakeholders. The former chief investor and industry relations officer at Home Point Financial Corp., Alli also held other senior roles in the mortgage industry in her career, including at Fannie Mae and Countrywide Home Loans.

Greenberg steps in as senior vice president, finance, responsible for investor relations, planning and analysis, data analytics and treasury. He previously held a similar role at specialty-finance company Triton International and also served as director of investment banking with Barclays.

Lender Toolkit taps Tammi Alexander as chief operating officer

Mortgage technology provider Lender Toolkit promoted Tammi Alexander to chief operating officer. She most recently held the title of senior director of mortgage technology and played a key role in the development of the company's automated underwriting tool. In her elevated position, Alexander will continue to lead technology initiatives as well as oversee operations, business development and customer experience.

Before joining the Salt Lake City-based technology company, Alexander served in leadership at several lenders, including GMFS Mortgage, Guardian Mortgage and BB&T Bank.

UFCU welcomes mortgage expert Christy Soukhamneut to leadership

UFCU, based in Austin, Texas, recently named Christy Soukhamneut chief lending officer. A former managing director for Texas Capital Bank's mortgage finance group, Soukhamneut's professional background includes tenures as chief of staff and director for Flagstar Bank's home lending division as well as sales leadership roles at nonbanks. She is currently also a board member at various technology and finance related businesses, such as Voxtur Analytics, Trained and Halcyon.

In her new executive position at UFCU, Soukhamneut will oversee consumer-lending operations, including both mortgage and auto, as well as advise the financial institution's business banking group.

Asurity welcomes risk and compliance expert Jennifer Creger

Compliance software provider Asurity Technologies hired banking and risk management expert Jennifer Creger to its leadership team. As director of Asurity advisory, Creger will assist the company's clients in mortgage and other consumer lending segments to solve for compliance challenges amid changing industry regulations.

Before joining Washington-based Asurity, Creger held the role of senior vice president of compliance at Crescent Bank, where she helped develop its enterprise risk management and assessment program, and was a key contributor to several compliance initiatives.

Click n’ Close adds mortgage executives Ken Weislak, Travis Sharpe

Left to right: Travis Sharpe, Ken Weislak

Wholesale and correspondent lender Click n' Close welcomed Ken Weislak and Travis Sharpe to its management team. Weislak steps into the role of business development manager within the wholesale division, where he will focus on expanding the Addison, Texas-based lender's national footprint through recruitment of third-party originators. Sharpe joins as operations manager in correspondent, responsible for running the division and ensuring client satisfaction with the company's down payment products.

A veteran of the third-party originator space, Weislak most recently led the central states region for Kind Lending's wholesale and nondelegated division. His prior experience includes positions with Plaza Home Mortgage, Aegis Wholesale and Fleet Mortgage. Sharpe comes to Click n' Close from Mr. Cooper, where he served for 15 years in different roles, including vice president of capital market operations.

Mortgage Machine Services welcomes Dan McGrew to lead sales

Technology solutions provider Mortgage Machine Services added Dan McGrew as its new director of sales. In his new position, McGrew will be in charge of bringing to market the company's digital products, including its loan origination system.

McGrew's background includes experience working in the LOS eVault and eClosing space and helping clients ramp up their tech stacks in order to enable them to work digitally and remain compliant. Before joining the Addison, Texas-based technology firm, McGrew served as chief operating officer at eClosing platform Pavaso, as well as president of consulting firm IT Services.

First Home Mortgage taps Brad Guinn to head first Tennessee office

Residential lender First Home Mortgage, which serves 21 states in the Eastern U.S., announced the opening of its first Tennessee branch headed by Brad Guinn. Leading the Sevierville office, Guinn will tap into a professional background in sales, construction finance and home-buyer education, as well as knowledge of the Eastern Tennessee market, to drive growth for the Baltimore-based home finance company.