Loandepot, Black Knight, New American make leadership moves

August 31, 2023 4:00 AM

Loandepot adds CoreLogic alum Melanie Graper as human resources head

Foothill Ranch, California-based lender and servicer Loandepot tapped Melanie Graper as chief human resources officer. In her new role, Graper will be responsible for personnel functions aiming to serve the company's Vision 2025 restructuring and cost-reduction plan. Graper's appointment comes after recent executive reshuffling saw the departure of four executives.

Most recently, Graper held the chief human resources officer position at CoreLogic, which was previously led by current Loandepot CEO Frank Martell. Prior to joining CoreLogic, Graper served in leadership positions at the likes of the Irvine Company, J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, Mattel and GlaxoSmithKline.

Appraisal Institute welcomes Cindy Chance as CEO

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Chicago-based trade group Appraisal Institute announced the appointment of Cindy Chance as its new CEO. Chance joins the organization, which represents and serves real estate appraisers globally, after most recently holding the role of executive vice president at the Urban Land Institute. While at ULI, which serves the interests of the commercial real estate industry, Chance expanded online education efforts and helped lead the group through the COVID-19 pandemic and CRE upheaval as a member of its executive team.

Black Knight taps Lucie Fortier to oversee development of MLS system

Business intelligence and data provider Black Knight added Lucie Fortier as executive vice president of its MLS Solutions group, housed within the data and analytics division. In the role, Fortier will lead initiatives behind the development and growth of Paragon Connect, Black Knight's multiple listing service system, responsible for coming up with strategies and providing sales and client support to better serve the MLS community and related real estate businesses.

Fortier comes to Jacksonville, Florida-based Black Knight after holding senior roles at Compass and CoreLogic, where she was responsible for providing strategy and technology-backed real estate solutions to their clients. She has also served as a board member of both the Council of Multiple Listing Services and the Real Estate Standards Organization.

Movement Mortgage jumps into reverse mortgage, adds Harlan Accola

Retail lender Movement Mortgage recently announced its expansion into reverse mortgage originations, naming Harlan Accola to lead growth of the loan product. In the newly created position of national reverse mortgage director, Accola will oversee a team responsible for increasing sales and supporting operations behind the new reverse offering. He previously held a similar role with Fairway Independent Mortgage, building it into a top 10 reverse-mortgage lender.

Also coming on board the new reverse-mortgage team for the Fort Mill, South Carolina-based lender are sales and operations veterans George Vrban and Kari Van Kleef. Dan Hultquist, author of Understanding Reverse, becomes director of reverse mortgage communications at Movement, while Jayme Dollar joins as the division's marketing team lead.

New American names Andrew Strickman chief marketing officer

New American Funding, the independent mortgage bank located in Tustin, California, tapped Andrew Strickman for the newly created position of chief marketing officer. With past marketing leadership roles in and outside of the housing industry, Strickman most recently held a similar executive position at health care startup Care Access and spent several years advising nonprofits. His marketing experience also includes tenures at Yahoo and Realtor.com, where he was previously head of brand and chief creative officer.

In his role with New American, Strickman will oversee the company's marketing and branding efforts, across channels, including digital, social media and editorial, while developing new strategies.

Common Securitization Solutions adds new tech officer Farhad Fariba

Bethesda, Maryland-based Common Securitization Solutions welcomed technology expert Farhad Fariba to its executive leadership team. As executive vice president and chief technology officer, Fariba will be responsible for the company's digital strategy as well as oversight of infrastructure, software development, cybersecurity and emerging trends at the firm, which supports the U.S. housing market via the administration of cloud-based mortgage securitizations. Monthly processing volume typically exceeds $400 billion per month, according to CSS.

Fariba joins CSS after serving in several senior-level technology leadership roles, including at Travel and Leisure Cos., where he oversaw functions of cloud and other technology platforms. His experience also includes positions in enterprise architecture, security operations and application support for a range of industries at companies such as Freddie Mac, Ally Financial, McAfee and MGM Resorts.

Arrive Home elevates Matt Pettit, Tai Christensen to top leadership

Left to right: Matt Pettit, Tai Christensen

National affordable housing program Arrive Home promoted its co-founders, Matt Pettit and Tai Christensen to CEO and president, respectively. Their promotions come as the company, which aims to provide down payment assistance and other product solutions to nontraditional or underserved borrowers, continues to expand its client base of lender partners.

Pettit previously served as Arrive Home's president, while Christensen held the role of chief diversity and public relations officer. Veterans of the mortgage industry, Pettit and Tai launched the Salt Lake City-based business in November 2022 after previous roles with affordable housing lender CBC Mortgage Agency.

Greystone promotes Eric Welby to chief financial officer

Photo by David Beyda

Commercial and multifamily real estate finance firm Greystone recently announced the promotion of Eric Welby to chief financial officer. In his newly elevated role, Welby will be responsible for maintaining growth of the New York-based company's conventional and alternative financing platforms, drawing from his knowledge of Greystone's lending, servicing, and investment businesses. Welby first joined the company in 2007.

Welby steps up to CFO after serving as chief accounting officer, a role in which he provided greater transparency to financial reporting, implemented technology to increase efficiencies and worked on initiatives to encourage partnerships with Greystone.

PenFed promotes Brian Kukwa, Mary Rzucidlo to senior vice president roles

Left to right: Brian Kukwa, Mary Rzucidlo

PenFed Credit Union, based in Washington, D.C., recently promoted Brian Kukwa and Mary Rzucidlo to elevated senior vice president positions responsible for some of the institution's key mortgage operations. Kukwa steps up to the role of senior vice president of home lending technology. Rzucidlo, meanwhile, takes on the position of senior vice president of home loans operations and culture.

In his new role, Kukwa will be in charge of driving PenFed's digital transformation in home lending. He previously held key technology and project management roles at DHI Mortgage, TIAA Bank and Bank of America. Previously, the credit union's vice president of home loans, Rzucidlo will continue to manage PenFed's mortgage lending operations, including learning and development, while adding new responsibilities surrounding business controls and member advocacy. She previously held positions with Wells Fargo, USAA and South State Bank.

Revolution Mortgage taps Peter Morris, Nicole Webster to lead reverse unit

Left to right: Peter Morris, Nicole Webster

Westerville, Ohio-based Revolution Mortgage announced its move into the reverse mortgage business, tapping Peter Morris and Nicole Webster to establish the new division. As vice president of reverse mortgage lending, Morris will lead Revolution's Retirement Resource Group branch located in Mesa, Arizona, specializing exclusively in the loans. He entered the mortgage business in 1980, spending several years as a reverse mortgage planner. Webster will lead the branch as business development manager, spending several years in retail before joining the mortgage industry.

Lereta adds CoreLogic alum Randy Kozlowski as chief strategy officer

Tax and flood services provider Lereta recently announced the appointment of Randy Kozlowski to the newly created position of chief strategy officer. A mortgage servicing veteran, Kozlowski spent several years in senior roles at CoreLogic including as an executive in charge of its tax business. He also previously led the client management team for CoreLogic Mortgage Solutions and began his career in servicing operations at M&T Bank and Goldome Realty Credit.

In his role at the Pomona, California-based company, Kozlowski will oversee product development, marketing and public relations. He also will help drive Lereta's merger-and-acquisition strategy.

Toorak Capital welcomes risk management leader Scott Goldman

Correspondent lending platform Toorak Capital Partners, which provides institutional financing to business-purpose originators, named mortgage industry veteran Scott Goldman as head of asset management. With a professional background across several segments within the home lending industry, Goldman was previously vice president at Cenlar, where he developed and implemented risk-management processes. He also spent several years at Ally Bank, eventually ascending to managing director responsible for leading a team in charge of service operations over an $11 billion portfolio.

In his new position at Summit, New Jersey-based Toorak, Goldman will manage the company's asset portfolio and servicing oversight process. The firm has funded over 26,000 loans totaling more than $10 billion since its launch.

Mobility Market Intelligence promotes Heidi Iverson to VP

Salt Lake City-based Mobility Market Intelligence, the data and business intelligence provider serving real estate and mortgage industries, promoted Heidi Iverson to vice president of strategic partnerships. In the elevated position, she will be in charge of sales and customer success, working with MMI's business clients to help them maximize the benefits of the company's data platform.

Iverson recently held the title of regional director of growth, a role in which she worked with customers to identify growth opportunities which would increase adoption and return on investment. MMI's tools are currently used by more than 350 enterprise customers, according to the company.

Westcor, X1 Analytics, Grid151 welcome three sales leaders

Left to right: Chris Scott, Joey Mitchell, Shane Cranton

Ardan Data Services, the parent of affiliated companies Westcor Land Title Insurance Co., X1 Analytics and Grid151, announced the hiring of sales leaders Joey Mitchell, Shane Cranton and Chris Scott as it seeks to expand its customer base in lender and closing automation. Mitchell joins as senior vice president of enterprise sales for all three businesses, tapping into his knowledge of title, settlement and technology in order to support lenders, agents and underwriters and drive client acquisition. The companies also welcomed Cranton as executive vice president of enterprise sales, a role where he will draw from his experience of helping companies meet goals through both organic growth and targeted acquisitions. Both Mitchell and Cranton previously held senior roles at Flueid and Title365.

Additionally, Grid151, which provides digital platforms connecting real estate, title and mortgage industries, welcomed Chris Scott as director of national sales. In the role, Scott will work with title agents to implement workshare solutions to help drive growth. Before joining Grid151, Scott held sales roles at National Closing Solutions and Placer Title Co.

Radius adds Maryland-based mortgage group led by Jay and Carl Delmont

Left to right: Jay Delmont, Carl Delmont

Norwell, Massachusetts-based lender Radius Financial announced the addition of Freedmont Mortgage Group, based in Hunt Valley, Maryland to its network. Freedmont, led by Jay and Carl Delmont, joins Radius as a new division and assists borrowers ranging from first-time buyers to real estate investors. The group is licensed in 13 states.