Power Moves: Newmark, Rocktop, BankSouth and others make newsworthy announcements
After nearly 50 years, Barry Gosin is calling it a career at Newmark Group. The CEO of the commercial real estate advisory will step down on Dec. 31 after serving in that capacity since 1979. Gosin has agreed to continue as chairman of affiliated operating company Newmark & Co. through 2029. Newmark’s board of directors hasn’t named a CEO successor but expects to do so by year-end.
Mortgage intelligence company Rocktop Technologies has appointed Jason Vinar as chief investment officer and head of Rocktop Capital Advisors, the firm’s capital markets business. Formerly chief operating officer at Two Harbors Investment Corp., where he actively managed the portfolio of RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing, Vinar will assume responsibilities for Rocktop Capital Advisors’ mortgage servicing rights valuation, hedge advisory services and strategic focus.
Erin Dee has joined BankSouth Mortgage as senior vice president and chief innovation officer, where she will focus on initiatives related to artificial intelligence adoption and workflow modernization. Most recently the chief operating officer of InterLinc Mortgage, Dee also previously served as president of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association. She is a current member of the MBA’s Residential/Single Family Board of Governors (RESBOG) and also serves in board roles at The Mortgage Collaborative and the American Valuation Society.
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Farmer Mac, a secondary market provider for agricultural real estate and housing loans, has appointed Nader Pasdar as executive vice president and chief business officer, effective Aug. 17. Pasdar was previously CEO of Rabo Securities and served as managing director and head of North American markets for Rabobank.
Varun Krishna, who has served as CEO of Rocket Companies since 2023, has joined the board of Southwest Airlines. Southwest cited Krishna’s “deep expertise in digital products, innovation and customer engagement” in its announcement. Prior to joining Rocket, he held senior roles at Intuit, PayPal, Groupon and Microsoft.
Invesco Mortgage Capital announced that Peter Graham has joined its board of directors. Graham is co-president and chief financial officer of student loan provider Sallie Mae and formerly held senior finance roles at PRA Group and General Electric.
Sandler Law Group, a provider of legal and support services to residential mortgage lenders, announced Peter Idziak has joined the firm as partner-in-charge. Idziak, who specializes in regulatory compliance and consumer financial law, previously spent seven years at Polunsky Beitel Green LLP, where he was promoted to principal in May.
Equity Prime Mortgage announced the return of David Abrahamson as chief risk officer. Abrahamson previously served as chief operating officer at EPM from 2010 to 2020. Since then, he has held senior roles at American Bancshares Mortgage, First Option Mortgage, Mortgage Equity Partners and Mortgage Solutions of Georgia. In his new role at EPM, he will be responsible for strengthening the company’s risk management framework and providing oversight of its credit, underwriting, regulatory and investor-related functions.
Planet has hired Greg Thomas as an area sales manager in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he will be tasked with leading retail growth across Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Thomas, who has 20 years of originating experience under his belt — including specialty in government lending, renovation financing, new construction and self-employed borrower loans — will operate under the GO Home Mortgage banner.
Certainty Home Lending has hired Bryan Ingenito as executive vice president and national operations executive. A nearly 30-year mortgage industry veteran, Ingenito is based in the Charlotte, N.C., metro area.
New American Funding has added originators Shane Masterman and Christian Johnson, whose jointly run venture is called Cantera Home Lending. Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the pair have nearly 50 years of combined industry experience.
Atlantic Coast Mortgage has added Keith Cross as senior vice president of builder relations. A former sales and operations leader at Beazer Homes, Cross will work with the company’s loan officers to develop builder resources and collaborations with home building partners.
Potomac Bank Residential Lending has hired Gail Moxley as senior vice president and senior mortgage loan officer. Moxley brings 25 years of experience from her career at CNB Bank, where she worked in commercial lending, residential lending, retail and collections.
Argyle, a provider of automated income and employment verifications for lenders, has promoted John Hardesty to chief revenue officer and Daniel Esquibel to vice president of mortgage. Hardesty previously served as senior vice president of revenue and Esquibel was the company’s director of strategic sales and partnerships.
Correspondent warehouse funder FirstFunding Inc., a subsidiary of title insurance giant First American Financial Corp., announced the retirement of Jim Dunkerley after 23 years of service. Dunkerley founded FirstFunding in 2003 and stewarded the company through its acquisition by First American in 2018.
