Fitch Names Head of Merged RMBS Team

Mary Kelsch, a senior director at Fitch Ratings, has been named to oversee the newly merged U.S. RMBS Servicer Rating and Originator Review teams of Fitch's Operational Risk Group."Consolidating the two [residential mortgage-backed securities] Operational Risk teams under a single manager will allow the synergy needed during this cycle in the industry," said Diane Pendley, a Fitch managing director. "The quality of origination, uniqueness of products, and issues such as early payment defaults and fraud greatly impact the actions of the servicer. In reverse, the servicer's ability to monitor and report on these issues, as well as to contain or control defaults and losses they may cause, should be brought back into the review of the originators' platforms." Ms. Kelsch, a 10-year veteran of Fitch, was instrumental in developing the company's RMBS servicer rating program, the rating agency said.