According to HousingWire, Stockton Mortgage has made significant changes to its leadership structure as the company looks to expand nationally. Founder David Stockton is moving into the role of chief executive officer after leading the company as president for over two decades. This shift in his responsibilities signals the company's readiness to pursue growth opportunities while bringing in additional executive talent to support that mission.
Anthony Whiteside, who has been with Stockton Mortgage for nearly two decades, is stepping up to become the new president. In this role, he will manage the day-to-day operations of the business. Whiteside emphasized in his comments that the leadership changes are designed to drive growth while preserving the company culture that has been central to Stockton Mortgage's identity and success.
The restructuring also touched the sales division significantly. Kris Vanzant, an early employee who built out the retail and multi-channel sales organization, is departing the company. To fill that gap, Stockton Mortgage brought in Scott Bristol as executive vice president of national sales, bringing with him extensive experience from roles at firms including Fairway Independent Mortgage, PrimeLending, and Flagstar Bank. Kevin Cario was also hired as a divisional manager, coming from his previous position at Union Home Mortgage where he served as regional manager.
Bristol shared that he came out of semi-retirement for this opportunity because of David Stockton's clear vision for the company's future and the solid foundation already in place. The company also promoted Christy Soukamneut to chief revenue officer. Soukamneut, who joined Stockton Mortgage as chief strategy officer in July, will now oversee all revenue-generating operations and strategy as the business scales.
What I am seeing locally in the Bay Area and East Bay is that mortgage companies big and small are constantly evolving their teams to stay competitive. When a lender like Stockton Mortgage makes these kinds of moves bringing in seasoned executives from other major firms, it shows they're serious about competing for market share in California and beyond. For my clients here in Fremont and throughout the region, this kind of stability and growth at established lenders can mean better options and competitive pricing as more experienced players enter or expand their presence in our markets.
