Over the past week, the U.S. mortgage industry saw a flurry of high-profile recruitment moves and promotions, indicating that lenders and financial institutions are actively investing in talent despite a challenging market. This Weekly Hiring Report highlights key personnel changes – from C-suite shake-ups to strategic team expansions – that are creating fresh recruitment momentum across the sector. Geared toward mortgage loan officers, branch managers, and industry executives, this expert recap provides context on how these hires align with broader business goals. Read on for the latest on who’s moving where in the mortgage world and what it means for growth and opportunities in 2026.
One Real Mortgage Names New CEO
One Real Mortgage made headlines this week by appointing a new chief executive. Kate Gurevich announced that she is taking the helm as CEO of One Real Mortgage, a division of Real Broker LLC. Gurevich is a seasoned leader who previously founded and led a consulting firm, and she shared her excitement on social media about joining One Real’s team. In her LinkedIn post, Gurevich thanked her mentors and noted that she was drawn to One Real’s vision after hearing the parent company’s CEO speak at an industry summit. She steps into the role as Samir Dedhia, the former head of One Real Mortgage, departs the company. Real Brokerage’s CEO Tamir Poleg welcomed Gurevich, stating that her “growth mindset and execution discipline” make her the right leader to unlock One Real’s full potential in integrated mortgage services. This C-suite change suggests One Real Mortgage is gearing up for an ambitious expansion, leveraging Gurevich’s experience to drive innovation in 2026.
Gershman Mortgage Elevates Four Officers
St. Louis-based Gershman Mortgage underscored its commitment to developing in-house talent by promoting four team members to new officer roles. The residential lender announced that Ben Helmerich and Amber Moser have been named Vice Presidents, while Courtney Jett and Matt Ortinau were elevated to Assistant Vice President positions. Helmerich, a loan officer since 2021 in Kentucky, and Moser, who joined in 2022 in Arkansas, both bring regional market expertise and a customer-first focus. Jett and Ortinau, with the company since 2017 and 2015 respectively, have deep experience in compliance and operations, ensuring loans stay on track and in regulatory adherence. Gershman’s President of Single-Family, Adam Mason, praised the quartet for living out the firm’s core values and playing critical roles in helping families achieve homeownership. These internal promotions not only reward performance but also signal stability – Gershman is investing in leaders who know the company culture, which can strengthen team morale and service quality.
SouthState Bank Adds 32 Seasoned Producers
In a bold nationwide talent grab, SouthState Bank announced the addition of 32 seasoned producers across key markets to kick off the year. This hiring wave spans multiple business lines – including commercial banking, mortgage lending, and wealth management – and is aimed at fueling SouthState’s revenue growth and market share expansion in 2026. “These hires represent a significant investment in our future,” said SouthState President Richard Murray, highlighting that the bank attracted proven leaders from well-respected institutions. Notable among the new recruits is D. Baron, joining as a Mortgage Sales Manager in Dallas with over two decades of experience (formerly with Truist), and Jacob Egly as a Mortgage Regional Sales Manager in Houston with 25 years’ experience (from First Horizon). SouthState also brought on numerous commercial lending experts in markets like Denver, Atlanta, Miami, and Houston – many coming from large banks such as JPMorgan Chase, BOK Financial, and Wells Fargo. This strategic talent infusion is aimed at deepening client relationships in high-growth regions while maintaining disciplined risk management. For mortgage and branch leaders, SouthState’s aggressive hiring spree is a clear sign that some banks see 2026 as a year of expansion – recruiting top performers to capture lending opportunities as the market evolves.
NEXA Lending Taps New National Sales Director
On the mortgage brokerage front, NEXA Lending – the nation’s largest mortgage broker – announced a key leadership hire to bolster its sales force. NEXA appointed Todd Bitter as its new National Director of Sales as of January 14, reinforcing the company’s commitment to growth and to elevating loan officer success industry-wide. Bitter is a well-known top producer with over 30 years of experience in the mortgage business, spanning roles from originator to executive leader. He is widely respected for coaching loan officers on building sustainable, repeatable success “regardless of market conditions”. NEXA CEO Mike Kortas remarked that bringing Bitter on board is part of a broader strategy to “invest in people” – with the belief that when loan officers are more educated, accountable, and confident, the entire industry wins. In his new role, Bitter will lead national sales strategy and professional development programs aimed at helping LOs at every stage of their career grow their production. For mortgage loan officers, this move by NEXA signals an emphasis on mentorship and skill-building. The recruitment of a respected industry coach like Bitter suggests that NEXA is doubling down on creating a supportive environment to drive loan volume and quality service, even as the market remains competitive.
Bottom Line: From an independent mortgage brokerage beefing up its leadership for LO development, to a regional bank hiring dozens of lenders, and a mortgage firm installing a new CEO, this week’s talent moves reflect a sector in motion. Lenders are positioning themselves with the right people – whether through internal promotions or strategic hires – to navigate the year ahead. For professionals in the field, these moves might present new partnership prospects or even opportunities for career advancement as companies like One Real, Gershman, SouthState, and NEXA signal confidence in growth by investing in human capital. Stay tuned for next Wednesday’s Mortgage Talent Moves report to keep up with the latest hiring and recruitment news shaping the mortgage industry.
