Helios AMC, a specialty servicer of defaulted commercial real estate loans and other debt, this week hired industry veteran Keith Johnson as its chief executive effective immediately.
Helios is controlled by Lewis Ranieri, co-inventor of the MBS, and former chairman of Bank United of Texas. Ranieri also has stakes in other mortgage-related ventures including Selene Finance, a servicer and loan modification company.
Johnson worked under Ranieri for 14 years at the Houston-based Bank United. When the thrift was sold to Washington Mutual in 2000, Johnson joined the larger depository, eventually becoming EVP and chief operating officer of its commercial group. (Ranieri's second bank venture, Franklin Bank, SSB, also of Houston, closed in late 2008, under the weight of builder loans.)
At Helios Johnson will be in charge of strategic growth and expanding out its services. The company has offices in San Francisco, and Blue Bell, Penn.
During his career he also served as president and CEO of Clayton Holdings, a due diligence provider that conducted loan reviews on mortgages that went into nonprime securities. He headed Clayton from 2006 to 2009.
