Top 20 U.S. mortgage lender loanDepot announced the promotion of regional sales director Bart Evans to regional vice president for the Southeast region.
Evans will help manage retail business in states like Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. He will report directly to senior vice president of production Paul Ramos.
The new regional vice president brings a bit more to his role than executive mortgage experience. The Kansas City Royals drafted Evans in the ninth round of the 1992 MLB draft. With the heart of an athlete, Evans will bring strong work ethic to his new role.
“As a former professional baseball player, Bart knows the value of hard work, competitiveness and collaboration. He starts every day as if he’s heading to a championship game and we’re excited to see his talents in action on our winning team,” loanDepot executive vice president John Bianchi said in a statement.
“Individuals and families in these markets deserve proper community-focused lending, and Evans’ leadership is well-suited to deliver the localized support they need. He’s a highly experienced leader who will make an important impact,” LDI Mortgage President loanDepot Jeff Walsh said.
loanDepot highlighted ongoing population growth in Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee as a key reason behind Evans’ promotion. The company believes that population increases in these states have driven higher demand for new construction sales. Evans’ dedication to serving communities in these areas is a valuable addition to business growth efforts, according to loanDepot.
“With Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee experiencing accelerated population growth over the past decade, loanDepot is well-positioned to meet the needs of families in these core markets — and Bart’s leadership, growth mindset, and dedication to his community make him the perfect fit to take our business to the next level,” Bianchi added.
Evans’ experience in the mortgage industry includes several high-profile leadership roles with companies such as Movement Mortgage. After leaving baseball in 2001, Evans began his lending career in Houston, before transitioning to Movement Mortgage and Summit Funding. Evans started his own real estate investment and management company, which he still operates while working for loanDepot.
Evans’ promotion follows other moves from loanDepot to bolster its presence in Southern states. In November, the company formed a joint venture with Smith Douglas Homes to form Ridgeland Mortgage. Last week, loanDepot hired another experienced executive, Teresa Carlile, as president of Ridgeland to lead growth strategy and daily operations.
