Loandepot, Onity, Cenlar announce leadership moves

August 8, 2025 6:00 AM

Loandepot names Anthony Hsieh permanent CEO

Irvine, California-based national lender Loandepot recently announced the appointment of founder and Chairman Anthony Hsieh as its permanent CEO. The appointment comes following his return to a day-to-day leadership role at the company earlier this year, first as executive chair, then as interim CEO since June. Hsieh founded Loandepot in 2009 and previously served as CEO of either the parent company or affiliate after its launch through 2022. Shortly after retaking the CEO role permanently, Hsieh brought back LD alums Dominick Marchetti as chief digital officer and Sean DeJulia as chief innovation officer.

Hsieh's intended goals in the next three months include the addition of new executive leadership to align with its intended technology focus.

Cenlar hires Steven Molitor to lead legal operations

Mortgage subservicer and commercial bank Cenlar FSB announced the appointment of Steven Molitor as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. With past experience at several high-profile lenders and law firms, Molitor comes to the Ewing, New Jersey-based company after most recently holding the title of chief legal officer at Freedom Mortgage. He also previously served as partner at Dechert, as well as principal and chief operating officer at mortgage securities investment firm Galton Capital Group.

Onity taps Luke Baer to boost data science initiatives

Onity Group, national servicer and parent of PHH Mortgage and Liberty Reverse, welcomed Luke Baer as vice president of data science and analytics. In the role, he will oversee origination and servicing analytics, as well as head efforts to develop artificial intelligence and machine-learning practices that encourage further innovation. Before joining West Palm Beach, Florida-based Onity, Baer held technology leadership roles at several companies, including Amazon.

FHLBank Chicago names Kevin Solchenberger chief information officer

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago appointed technology leader Kevin Solchenberger as executive vice president, chief information officer. As a leader of technology initiatives across several industries throughout his career, Solchenberger most recently served at Boston Consulting Group, where he worked directly with FHLBank Chicago in establishing its digital strategy. Previously, he also held key technology leadership positions at the likes of Intercontinental Hotels Group and Cox Communications.

SWBC taps veteran executive Tim Whittier as production leader

San Antonio-based SWBC Mortgage welcomed mortgage industry veteran leader Tim Whittier as its new senior vice president of product optimization. In the position, he will work across several SWBC teams to support originations growth and drive the lender's strategy, with an eye on production performance and coaching initiatives. The lender is a subsidiary of the namesake financial services firm.

With a mortgage career spanning decades, Whittier previously served as president at First Home Mortgage. He is also a former president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Longbridge appoints tech expert Azita Guzzo for new leadership role

Reverse mortgage lender Longbridge Financial added Azita Guzzo as head of technology innovation. In the newly created position, Guzzo will drive digital adoption for Longbridge, developing advanced solutions that tap into her experience working in robotic process automation, artificial intelligence and analytics.

A financial services veteran, she joins the Paramus, New Jersey-based firm after serving in technology leadership at Carrington Mortgage Holdings and previously led business intelligence activities in the auto lending industry.

Aces promotes Amanda Phillips, Savannah Prout in compliance leadership

Left to right: Amanda Phillips, Savannah Prout

Mortgage software firm Aces Quality Management elevated Amanda Phillips and Savannah Prout within compliance leadership, with both continuing their efforts to support clients navigate regulatory complexities.

A veteran legal authority in home lending, Phillips steps into the role of general counsel and executive vice president of compliance. Prior to joining Aces, she served as counsel at Ballard Spahr and held previous leadership roles at Mortgage Cadence and WR Starkey Mortgage. Prout takes on the title of associate vice president of compliance, responsible for providing updates to Aces' customers and building resources.

Neighborworks promotes Lee Anne Adams to C-suite

Photo by Richard T. Nowitz

Housing affordability nonprofit Neighborworks America announced the promotion of Lee Anne Adams to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In her new role, she will continue to drive strategy development to support homeownership and wealth-building programs. She most recently held the title of senior vice president in Neighborworks' national initiatives division.

Adams first joined the Washington-based organization in 2008 and takes over the c-suite position from the retiring Susan Ifill. Previously, Adams helped lead Neighborworks' training division and served as senior director of its Project Reinvest program.

Tidalwave welcomes sales leaders Frank Pastirchak, John Stephenson

Left to right: Frank Pastirchak, John Stephenson

Artificial intelligence-backed mortgage platform Tidalwave welcomed technology veterans John Stephenson and Frank Pastirchak to drive its focus on expanding adoption of its point-of-sale tools. The New York-based fintech appointed Stephenson, a former ICE Mortgage Technology executive, as head of national sales. Stephenson previously spent over a decade at IMT as a relationship manager and account executive.

The company also announced the appointment of Frank Pastirchak as account executive. With a sales career working with several software-as-a-service providers, Pastirchak joins the company bringing home lending expertise from the likes of mortgage and appraisal management platforms nCino and Reggora.

Friday Harbor adds sales, tech leaders Chris Simms, Gregory Buehler

Left to right: Gregory Buehler, Chris Simms

Underwriting mortgage platform Friday Harbor ramped up its growth with two new leadership hires: Chris Simms and Gregory Buehler. The current president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of St. Louis, Simms joins the Seattle-based fintech as head of strategic partnerships, responsible for developing customer relationships and cooperation with integration partners and industry associations. His mortgage career includes tenures at Mutual of Omaha, First Integrity Mortgage Services and Pulaski Bank.

Buehler steps into the role of founding project engineer, a role in which he will help lead and execute product strategy, working closely with leadership and across several Friday Harbor divisions. Earlier in his career, Buehler helped lead product development at technology startups in different industries, including healthcare and social media analytics.

Kiavi boosts construction lending with Tom Hallock, Robert Jayne

Left to right: Robert Jayne, Tom Hallock

Pittsburgh-based real estate investment lender Kiavi added Tom Hallock and Robert Jayne to lead construction finance activities as they take on roles to drive division growth. A construction industry expert, Hallock previously held similar leadership roles at DPL Capital and Genesis Capital. In his new position as head of construction lending, he will be in charge of the entire vertical, responsible for products and strategy.

As head of originations, Jayne will lead growth initiatives for construction lending operations, tapping into his experience as a residential real estate developer. His lending industry background includes recent positions at Archwest Capital and Genesis Capital, where he served as chief construction officer.

Bilt taps Margarette Hepfner for executive director of resident loyalty

Bilt, the online housing commerce platform providing consumer rewards and benefits via rent payments that can drive homeownership, named Margarette Hepfner executive director of resident loyalty. A former property manager, Hepfner will lead efforts to roll out Bilt's Resident Loyalty 2.0 platform. She most recently held the role of chief operating officer of residential management at Willow Bridge Property Co. and continues to be an active member of the National Multi-Housing Council and National Apartment Association.

Atlas VMS adds Chris Jones, Mick Tindall to C-suite

Left to right: Mick Tindall, Chris Jones

Valuation and appraisal management solutions provider Atlas VMS welcomed two new executives to its c-suite. The Miami-based firm named Chris Jones chief operating officer, a role in which he will be responsible for execution of Atlas VMS strategy to deliver appraisal services. He previously worked alongside Atlas' CEO while serving in operations at Landmark Network prior to its acquisition by Class Valuation, before subsequently became its senior vice president of enterprise program management.

The company also named Mick Tindall chief technology officer and president, platform solutions, following Atlas' acquisition of order management platform AIM-Port, moving the company into the digital appraisal space. Tindall will lead efforts to continue development of the appraisal information management platform after serving for over a decade as director of technology at AIM-Port, taking responsibility of all rebranding and expansion plans.

Pylon welcomes tech veteran Brett Byron to head marketing efforts

Mortgage origination fintech Pylon welcomed Brett Byron as vice president of marketing. A marketing and technology industry veteran, Byron joins the San Francisco-based firm after holding a similar leadership role at Narvar and brings experience from previous positions at Affirm and Apple. In his new role at Pylon, Byron will aim to scale company growth as it attempts to establish a niche in the mortgage industry and help bring Pylon's platform to market.

Planet Home ups retail game with Don and Corey Miller

Meriden, Connecticut-based Planet Home Lending tapped the team of Don and Corey Miller for national industry recruitment, as it seeks to grow its branch network and expand retail operations. The father-and-son pair join Planet Home with a successful track record working at other independent mortgage banks nationwide and will target initial efforts in the Southeastern U.S., Missouri and Arizona. Planet Home also expects to continue adding branches on both coasts.