TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
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TH E M R EP O RT | 17 MCROWD experience includes three decades of extraordinary leadership and management positions in mortgage businesses globally, growth strategy, sales, operations, and executive management. Kula will be responsible for coordinating execution of the Planet strategy plans and initiatives across its diverse business lines. Most recently, Kula was a division president at ServiceLink, a Black Knight Company, where he led the com- pany's title and origination business- es. His focus included optimizing the integration of acquisitions, enhancing business margins, improving customer service, and increasing operational productivity. During his three decades in the industry, he has worked with some of the industry's leading firms in the business, including Bank of America, Wachovia (Wells Fargo), Washington Mutual, Mellon Mortgage (now JPMorgan Chase), and Lloyds Banking Group. SERVICE PROVIDER MARC HINKLE Assurant, Inc., a New York-based global provider of risk management solutions, has announced the appointment of Marc Hinkle as Managing Director of Assurant Valuations, a title, valuation, and settlement services company. Hinkle will oversee the Assurant Valuations product lines and lead strategy and innovation while strengthening the company's presence in key markets. Hinkle joined the Assurant Valuations team in November 2016 as SVP, where he was responsible for valuations operations while delivering on service-level commitments and ensuring a positive client experience. He has over 20 years of mortgage banking experi- ence including valuations, property preservation, and all aspects of mortgage loan servicing. TERRI HUNTER ServiceLink, the Pennsylvania- headquartered national mortgage services company, has announced the appointment of Terri Hunter, who has joined the company as a National Sales Executive of Default Services. Hunter joins the ServiceLink team with a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her many years in the industry. She most recently worked for Chronos Solutions as SVP of asset management and portfolio, where part of her responsibilities was overseeing all asset management contracts, both private and government, along with the profitability of that operation. Prior to Chronos Solutions, she was with OneWest Bank where she was responsible for property collateral management and liquidation strategies of defaulted assets for the bank. She also spent time with Ocwen Financial Corporation and Indymac Bank. CLAUDIA MERKLE, PATRICK MATHIS, ROB SMITH NMI Holdings, Inc, the parent company of California-based National Mortgage Insurance Corporation (National MI), has announced the promotion of COO Claudia Merkle to President, as well as two other senior executives: Patrick Mathis is now EVP, Operations, and IT, and Rob Smith has been promoted to EVP and Chief Risk Officer. "Claudia has been with National MI from the beginning. She developed and led our operations team in the early stages," Bradley Shuster, Chairman, and CEO of NMI Holdings, Inc, said. "Claudia was also instrumental in building our sales organization, which has become a model for the industry. Our continued success after her promotion to COO in 2016 is just as I expected. Her promotion to President is well- deserved, and I look forward to our continued work together for the success of our employees, customers, and shareholders." PATRICK MCCLAIN Luxembourg-based Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. has appointed Patrick McClain as SVP, Hubzu Auction Services. In this role, McClain will be responsible for driving the growth of Hubzu's residential online marketing and auction business. Leveraging Hubzu's scale, rich data resources, and fully integrated end-to-end services, McClain will oversee product innovation for the Company's Online Auction, Live Auction, Short-Sale, Claims Without Conveyance of Title, and National Brokerage Services businesses along with Hubzu's client management program and business development strategy. "The real estate auction space is dynamic and continues to evolve," John A. Vella, Chief Revenue Officer, Altisource, said. "Adding talent like Patrick, along with our scale and innovative solutions positions Hubzu as the leading provider of real estate auction services for home buyers and sellers and an indispens- able partner for our clients." LEGAL BRANDY M. GREEN Atlanta-based Padgett Law Group (PLG) welcomed Brandy M. Green to the firm. Green has taken over the Executive Director of Operations role, recently vacated by Robyn S. Padgett. Green will report directly to General Counsel/VP Laura Conrad, with a dotted line to Robyn Padgett. Green comes to PLG as a 20-plus year veteran of the creditor rights' industry and brings to the firm her invaluable knowledge and experience. Green holds a degree from Darton College and is an American Bar Association certified paralegal. In her new role, Green will be responsible for implementing and executing the firm's business plans according to its business model and ensuring that all appropriate actions are taken to expedite the firm's portfolio of business. Her primary focus will be based on client service level agreements and performance requirements, as well as oversight and management of the firm's high-volume, multi-state creditors rights' practice, including but not limited to, foreclosure process and operations, bankruptcy process, and retail and REO closing transactions. KERRY MCINERNEY, WILLIAM TATE Atlanta-based McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC has announced that Kerry McInerney has joined the firm as Managing Partner of the firm's Alabama and Mississippi Litigation and Trial Practice Group. The firm is also pleased to announce that William Tate, previously a partner in the firm's Commercial Litigation Group, has been named Managing Partner of the firm's Georgia Litigation and Trial Practice Group. McInerney and Tate will manage teams of experienced litigators handling a variety of complex matters. They will also join the firm's Management Committee. Managing Partner and CEO Marty Stone expressed great excitement about these appointments: "Kerry and Will bring a vast amount of experience, goodwill, and enthusiasm to their Groups. We are extremely pleased they are assuming these new leadership roles at the firm. The addition of Kerry and Will to the Management Committee adds undeniable depth and bench strength showcasing the firm's commitment to both growth and quality of litigation services in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia." LARRY E. POWE Fabrizio & Brook, P.C., a Troy, Michigan- based law firm, has announced the addition of attorney Larry E. Powe to its team. The firm provides full legal services to mortgage industry professionals, including loss mitigation, residential and commercial foreclosure, REO, evictions, bankruptcy, real estate, curative title, and defense litigation, including federal agencies related thereto, and financial institution deposit insurance underwriters. Powe brings over 40 years of practical legal expertise, including financial institution receiverships throughout the state, creditors rights, bankruptcy and insolvency-related matters, creditor-related matters, contract disputes, alternative dispute resolutions, general circuit court and federal court receiverships, and secured and unsecured creditors. The Fabrizio & Brook firm is also a member of the Legal League 100, the premier professional association of financial services law firms in the United States. Know someone moving up in the industry? email us at Editor@theMReport.com.