TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/1418210
12 | M R EP O RT MCROWD Lending's new servicing center in Irving, Texas, employing about 130 people. "As we continue to grow, Andy will be laser-focused on the customer experience at Planet, making sure we not only meet but exceed our call metrics and goals," Planet Home Lending President Sandra Jarish said. "He will bring a fresh perspective to the team along with new ideas and additional automation tools to ensure we continue to provide best-in-class service to our borrowers and clients. He has a knack for inspiring borrower- facing teams and building a collabora- tive environment in which employees are empowered to genuinely serve and support customers. Everywhere he goes, the metrics improve, and customer satisfaction is elevated." Watson said that he decided to join Planet Home Lending for three main reasons: reputation, culture, and portfolio. "First, Planet has a good reputation as a company and servicer," Watson said. "Second, the culture is team-driv- en, and people reach across channels to share ideas and resources. And finally, the portfolio is on an upward trajectory, hitting $45 billion at the end of the second quarter. That's a 117% year-over-year increase, including $11.7 billion in subservicing," Watson said. Before joining Planet Home Lending, he was previously the VP of Call Center Operations at Rushmore Loan Management Services. He also previously worked at Ditech Financial, SoFi, IBM, and Green Tree Servicing. MICHAEL H. WILSON Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc., a wholesale and correspondent mortgage lender, announced that Michael H. Wilson has joined the company as Chief Information Officer. In this role, Wilson will be respon- sible for strategic planning, oversight, and the continuous improvement of Plaza's technology activities. In addition, he will oversee Plaza's data center, drive development, and implementation of new systems and applications, ensure that Plaza's hard- ware, software, and web systems are efficient and secure and oversee IT. He will report directly to Michael Fontaine, Plaza's Co-President and COO. Wilson joins Plaza from Zense, a technology start-up he co-founded that uses AI and blockchain to provide universal credit validation. Prior to Zense, Wilson was the VP of IT Operations, Chief Information Security Officer of Impac Mortgage Corp. Previously, Wilson was the Senior VP of IT Operations for loanDepot and VP, Chief Information Officer at Option One Mortgage. Earlier in his career, Wilson held a series of senior-level technology and consulting positions in the aerospace, retail, nonprofit, and manufacturing industries. "We are very excited to have Mike join the Plaza family," Fontaine said. "Mike is an industry veteran with a well-earned reputation for being a strong leader and tech expert whose unique skill set is uniquely designed to improve the client experience via technology and help support Plaza's continued growth." Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied math/engineering system sciences from UCLA and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Loyola Marymount University. SERVICE PROVIDERS TOM BOOKER Candor Technology has announced that E. Thomas Booker III has joined the company as Chief Strategy Officer, bringing 30 years of experience in securities, technology, product development, solution delivery to his new role. "We are excited to have Tom join our team," said Thomas Showalter, Candor's CEO. "He has a keen sense for where the markets, lenders, investors, analyt- ics and technology meet to address the business realities and evolving demands of the real estate finance industry." Booker most recently served as a Managing Director at The Collingwood Group, where he pro- vided business strategy consulting and strategic transaction support to capital markets participants and technology/service providers. Prior to joining Collingwood, Booker oversaw the marketing, development, policy, and solution delivery functions associ- ated with the government-sponsored entities (GSEs) for CoreLogic. Under Booker's leadership, the company developed and delivered outsourced applications, tailored analytics, and valuation solutions in addition to rules-based claims management applications. Booker also served as an executive at Fannie Mae, and a General Manager at the IBM Company during his career. "Candor's Underwriting Decision Science is the most significant ap- plication of information science to a high-value business problem the mortgage markets have seen in decades," Booker said. "Candor has developed a compelling response to address the cost, quality and throughput challenges at the heart of mortgage lender profitability." TODD HOLLOSI Secure Insight (SecureInsight.com) announced that it has hired Todd Hollosi as its new CTO. As the CTO, Hollosi will be responsible for the design and implementation of new technology enhancements and new product offerings for Secure Insight's wire and settlement fraud prevention tools. Hollosi has more than 20 years' ex- perience in the mortgage industry. He also has been providing leadership at the C-level for over 20 years. Most re- cently, he was President of CastleLine Risk and Insurance Services, an insurance and risk management firm in the mortgage industry. His leader- ship talents have been leveraged in a variety of company situations including aggressive growth and turn- around. Has leadership experiences include Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, SunTrust Bank, Prudential Insurance, GMAC, Fifth Third Bank, and ABB, amongst others. Secure Insight President Andrew Liput stated, "I have known Todd for many years, and in fact, he helped us design and launch the very first ver- sion of our fraud tool platform back in 2012. It is great to have him back as we begin to create new tools and new versions of our technology offerings that will cement our solution as an industry utility." Hollosi also remarked, "I am thrilled to re-join the Secure Insight team as they commit to a major investment in technology build and new product development. I also am looking for- ward to offering technology support for the new strategic partner integra- tions the company has developed. They have come a very long way since I first worked here 10 years ago." JENN PENSA Providence-based Equity National Title has named Jennifer Pensa as its new COO. The national title insurance and settlement services provider offers a full suite of residential (purchase, refinance, and home equity) and commercial settlement services nationwide. As COO, Pensa will manage the day-to-day operations of the busi- ness. She will be charged with manag- ing and strategically optimizing the systems, technology, and production processes that are critical to settle- ment services providers in an emerg- ing purchase mortgage market. Pensa comes to Equity National Title with decades of experience over- seeing people and effectively imple- menting optimal operational systems. She was most recently EVP and Chief Innovation Officer with Chelsea Groton Bank in Groton, Connecticut. Before that, she was a VP with WSFS Bank in Delaware. She has also served as VP, Senior Operations Officer with Guilford Savings Bank in Connecticut. "Jennifer has a long, demonstrated history of getting the best results from people and technology through- out the mortgage and real estate industry," said James K. O'Donnell, Esq., President of Equity National Title. "She is a natural leader who has inspired her teammates to go above and beyond wherever she has been and has a penchant for identifying the best technology and most efficient systems for the unique needs of her own firm, as well as best serving her clients. With a strong purchase mar- ket rising across the country, Equity National Title's effectiveness and efficiency will serve to optimize our lending clients' closing times, fallout rates, and borrower experience at a time when every lender is competing for market share. Jennifer will be a major part of continuing and growing our positioning." know someone moving up in the industry? email us at Editor@theMReport.com.