Montgomery Confirmed as FHA Commish

The Senate has confirmed Brian Montgomery to be an assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the new housing commissioner.As the new Federal Housing Administration commissioner, Mr. Montgomery is expected to start a marketing campaign to boost homebuyer awareness of the FHA single-family program as an alternative to subprime loans. He previously served in the White House as a deputy assistant to the president. Former FHA Commissioner John Weicher left HUD at the end of April. In other personnel news, Armando Falcon, former director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, has joined the Canonbury Group, a London-based financial consulting firm, as a principal. Mr. Falcon is establishing a Washington D.C. office for the firm, which advises professional investors and senior business managers on government policies and political risks.