More than 20 mortgage service providers — including an investment banker, a default service provider and valuation firms — have recently recruited or replaced executives. Two trade groups and a public relations firm were also in on the action.
Max O. Valdes was recently named chief financial officer of First American Financial Corp., the Santa Ana, Calif.-based company reported. He has reportedly spent 22 years in the business and served as First American’s interim CFO at various times from January 2006 to January 2009. He joined the company in 1988 and worked at PriceWaterhouseCoopers before that.
First American also said it named Mark E. Seaton senior vice president, finance. Seaton began his career with the company in 2006 and previously worked for BancBoston Capital.
The new chief executive officer of Zillow Inc. is Spencer Rascoff, the company said last month. He replaces co-founder Rich Barton, who will stay on as executive chairman. Co-founder Lloyd Frink will relinquish his title as president and has adopted the role of chief strategy officer.
Thomas Casolaro was promoted from director of sales to CEO of investment banker Newbridge Financial Inc. on Oct. 1, the company announced. Casolaro has been with the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company for six years. Robert Spitler will continue on as president.
The new managing director and head of operational risk at the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. is Andre Leonard, the New York-based organization announced last month. He’ll report directly to Chairman and CEO Donald F. Donahue. Leonard came from Fannie Mae and also previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Wachovia Bank.
| UHS America said Thursday that Travis Pham was named executive vice president. The quality control service provider said the new executive will ensure that current industry standards are being met and oversee new business development. His 32-year career includes 12 years with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Steve Grundleger was hired as EVP of FNC Inc., a press release last month said. Included in his 30 years’ experience are jobs at Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and Salomon Brothers. The statement gave no indication of Grundleger’s new responsibilities. In Washington, D.C., Mary Lou Christy was appointed senior VP of The Collingwood Group. She previously worked in investor relations at Fannie Mae. Greg A. Schatz and Dave Widmoyer were both appointed regional directors of sales at SettlementOne Valuation.
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SettlementOne photo of Greg A. Schatz
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SettlementOne photo of Dave Widmoyer
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Schatz, a 28-year veteran who previously worked for Radian Mortgage Insurance and ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, will handle the Northeast from New York.
Widmoyer, whose 22 years included stints at PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. and Triad Guaranty Insurance, will cover the Midwest from Illinois. The new vice president of national sales at LenderLive Network Inc. is Pet Butler, according to an announcement Monday. He will identify new business opportunities and manage relationships. Butler previously worked at Countrywide Credit Industries, Interthinx and Lehman Brothers Mortgage Capital Division, LenderLive said.
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| Two new VPs of business development at Solidifi U.S. are Mark Critchfield and Tony Laurito.
Critchfield is based in San Francisco and responsible for developing new strategic lender relationships. He also works with existing Solidifi clients. His territory includes 11 western states. Critchfield previously worked for Fidelity National Financial and has 15 years’ experience. Laurito, on the other hand, will operate from New York. He most recently spend 11 years with United Guaranty. Solidifi President Griff Straw said in the statement that the two executives are joining the company as it experiences “phenomenal growth.”
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Solidifi photo of Mark Critchfield
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Solidifi photo of Tony Laurito |
A previous announcement from Solidifi indicated that Rob Burgess was appointed to Solidifi’s board of directors.
The new board member’s resume includes his former role as chairman and CEO of Macromedia Inc. and director on the board of Adobe Systems Inc. NCS said last month that Chuck Burke was hired to fill the newly created position of VP of credit reporting. Burke held prior jobs with Experian Real Estate Services and First Advantage Credco. The move was preceded by the recent addition of Cecil Bowman as senior VP and followed by the hiring of John Campbell as national account executive.
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| Tim Gillis was hired as vice president of business development at default service provider BSI, a news release Monday said.
Gillis, who previously worked at Aurora Loan Services’ wholesale division, said in the statement that he liked that the Irving, Texas-based company services performing and non-performing loans. Mortgage Builder promoted Kelli Himebaugh from sales manager to the newly created position of VP, client development. Himebaugh will serve as a liaison between sales and operations. Roxanne Bobolz is now the president of the Iowa Mortgage Association. Bobolz is with US Bank Home Mortgage.
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BSI photo of Tim Gillis
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Kirchmeyer photo of Meredith Boyd
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Meredith Boyd has joined Kirchmeyer & Associates Inc. as director of sales, a Sept. 13 statement said.
Boyd has more than a decade of mortgage banking experience, most recently at the William Mills Agency where she represented more than 50 companies. State Bank of Georgia President and CEO David R. Coxon was elected chair of The Risk Management Association, an announcement indicated. In addition, PNC Mortgage Co. EVP and Chief Risk Officer John J. Wixted Jr. was elected vice chair. Their one-year terms started on Sept. 1. |
