People in the News, Nov. 19, 2024
(Sean Dugan, image courtesy of Dark Matter)
Dark Matter Technologies Announces Planned CEO Transition
Dark Matter Technologies, Jacksonville, Fla., announced that Sean Dugan, currently Chief Revenue Officer, will become CEO, effective April 2025. He will succeed Rich Gagliano, who will now serve as Executive Chairman.
Gagliano launched Dark Matter in 2023 after more than 10 years in leadership at Black Knight Origination Technologies.
Dugan brings more than 25 years of mortgage industry experience, including 14 years alongside Gagliano at Dark Matter and Black Knight.
Optimal Blue Makes Executive Announcements
Optimal Blue, Plano, Texas, announced Erin Wester has been promoted to Chief Product Officer and Mike Vough has been promoted to Head of Corporate Strategy.
Wester was formerly working on the company’s product and pricing solutions. She will now oversee product strategy for the entire Optimal Blue capital markets platform, among other responsibilities.
Vough was previously leading the strategy for Optimal Blue’s hedging and trading solutions, and will now focus on corporate strategy, including business development to support the company’s integration partner network and corporate development to drive its acquisition strategy.
MAXEX Adds Daniel Wallace as Chief Operating Officer
MAXEX, Atlanta, announced Daniel Wallace will serve as Chief Operating Officer.
Wallace has more than three decades of experience as an operator, entrepreneur and investor.
He previously served as General Manager of Lending at Figure Technologies. Most recently he was CEO of Haven Servicing. He also has worked for FirstKey Mortgage, a Cerberus Capital Management portfolio company, Capital Crossing and Lehman Bros.
MBA’s Sasha Hewlett Honored by Women in Housing Finance
Sasha Hewlett, Mortgage Bankers Association Associate Vice President, Secondary and Capital Markets, was recognized as one of Women in Housing Finance’s 45th Anniversary Honorees.
Women in Housing Finance is honoring 25 outstanding individuals who have made a mark on the housing and financial services industries. The honorees were chosen based on their professional achievement, leadership, dedication to community service/civic engagement, and commitment to diversity and inclusion
They were recognized at the organization’s 45th anniversary celebration Nov. 13.
Fannie Mae Appoints Scott Stowell to Board
Fannie Mae announced Scott Stowell has been appointed to its Board of Directors.
Stowell has nearly 40 years of experience in the U.S. homebuilding industry, and serves as Founder, CEO and President of Capital Thirteen.
He currently sits on multiple boards, including Toll Brothers, Pacific Mutual Holding Co. and HomeAid America.
FHFA Names Victoria Nahrwold Deputy Director, Division of Enterprise Regulation
The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Victoria Nahrwold as Deputy Director, Division of Enterprise Regulation. She is responsible for all oversight, direction and support for all examination activity involving the Enterprises, the development of supervision findings and preparation of the annual reports of examinations.
She also will serve as a member of the Federal Housing Finance Oversight Board.
Nahrwold has more than two decades of experience in the industry, including multiple positions within the National Credit Union Administration. She was most recently Associate Director in the Office of Examination and Insurance.
Certainty Home Lending Welcomes Larry Torch, Craig Thomason
Certainty Home Lending, Dallas, a Rate company, announced Larry Torch has joined as Executive Vice President and Craig Thomason has joined as Vice President, Mortgage Lending.
Torch has been in the mortgage industry since 1991, and has held a number of positions. He most recently served as Southwest Regional Manager at a large national mortgage lender.
Thomason also has more than 30 years of mortgage experience, including key roles with multiple leading banks and institutions.
Provident Bank Expands Mortgage Warehouse Lending Team
Provident Bank, Iselin, N.J., announced the addition of Mohamed Najam as Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, with the bank’s mortgage warehouse lending team.
He will be responsible for developing new and profitable warehouse lending relationships.
Najam has more than 20 years of experience in mortgage warehouse lending and corporate banking, and most recently served as First Vice President in the warehouse lending division at Flagstar Bank. He has also worked with Santander Bank and Bank of America.
