Exec "is a true servant leader and will be instrumental in this new role"
Academy Mortgage has elevated Kristi Pickering (pictured), formerly chief operations officer, to president as part of the company’s growth strategy plan.
The Utah-based lender said that the move will give Academy CEO Mac Pherson more capacity to focus on growth opportunities while Pickering concentrates on the day-to-day operations of the organization. Additionally, Pickering will work closely with the executive team to implement the company’s strategies and optimize efficiencies “to streamline the way Academy Mortgage does business.”
Pickering joined the company in 2019 as chief operations officer. She is credited for developing a dynamic operations team, expanding Academy’s technology landscape, and implementing several operational process improvements. Before Academy Mortgage, Pickering served as senior vice president of national retail operations at Caliber Home Loans. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade at Bank of America Home Loans.
“Kristi is an incredible leader and an inspiration to many. I’ve known her for years and worked with her in several different roles. She has not only my trust but my utmost confidence,” said Pherson. “Kristi is a true servant leader and will be instrumental in this new role. I could not be more excited about the future of Academy Mortgage.”
Read more: Academy Mortgage extends lending operations in Colorado
Late last year, Academy Mortgage expanded its business into the Colorado market. The lender now has more than 250 branches and 2,000 employees nationwide and is licensed to originate in 49 states and Washington, DC.
