INDIAN LAND, S.C. — Movement Mortgage, the nation's sixth-largest retail mortgage lender, is bolstering the ranks of its leadership with the creation of a new position and a critical promotion to meet the quickly evolving needs of the mortgage industry across the United States. 

Effective immediately, John Third, Chief Operating Officer at Movement, will step into the newly created role of Chief Innovation Officer, a position that speaks to the ever-changing role of mortgage technology at Movement. 

As Chief Innovation Officer, Third will now be able to more fully lead the development of the pioneering technology and process initiatives specific to mortgage operations that have propelled Movement's growth and differentiated the company from competitors. Third had been COO for the past nine years, continually innovating in the area of mortgage operations. He has been with the company since its inception in 2008, previously serving as Chief Compliance Officer.

A graduate of RGU — the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland — Third holds a BA in Mathematics and Computer Science. He has three decades of experience in the mortgage industry.

 “John's name has been synonymous with innovation since he helped launch our industry-leading Upfront Underwriting and 6-7-1 Process more than a decade ago,” said Movement's co-founder and CEO, Casey Crawford. “His dedication to improving the digital mortgage experience exemplifies our deep commitment to process innovation. We can't wait to see what he builds moving forward.” 

Meanwhile, Jason Stenger has been promoted to Chief Operations Officer from SVP-National Director of Operations, a position he has held for the past 7+ years. 

As the new Chief Operations Officer, Stenger will lead nationwide mortgage operations, continuous improvement and process innovation — including all processing, underwriting, closing, training and technical support for loan officers and sales teams. 

A Furman University alumnus, Stenger has worked in the mortgage industry for more than 20 years and is a 2019 Housing Wire Insider honoree, an award that recognizes operations all-stars. 

"We are extremely excited to see Jason elevate to this new role," said Movement Mortgage President Michael Brennan. "His years of dedication to operational excellence from serving his Sales and Operations team members have prepared him for this next evolution in his career. As Movement continues its incredible growth, there is no better person to produce and build up more leaders than Jason!"

Founded in 2008, Movement funded $33 billion in home mortgages in 2021, making it one of the largest purchase mortgage lenders in the United States. Fueled by the tremendous growth of a retail salesforce licensed in all 50 states — more than 520 loan officers were hired in 2021 — the company continues its rapid nationwide expansion.

As part of Movement's mission to love and value people by investing in communities, the privately-held company has committed more than $360 million to its nonprofit Movement Foundation since its inception. This “More Than Mortgages” initiative fuels Movement's vision of building 100 Title 1 charter schools across the United States in the next ten years. The foundation also supports community grants across the U.S. and the development of community centers in developing countries.

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About Movement Mortgage 

Movement Mortgage exists to love and value people by leading a Movement of Change in its industry, corporate culture and communities. Funding approximately $30 billion in residential mortgages annually, Movement is the sixth-largest retail mortgage lender in the U.S. Movement is best known for its innovative mortgage process and referable experience, which begins with Upfront Underwriting and a seven-day loan processing goal. The company employs more than 4,000 people, has more than 650 branches in the U.S. and is licensed in 50 states. After funding its balance sheet and investing in future growth, Movement's profits are paid to its primary shareholder, the nonprofit Movement Foundation. To date, Movement Foundation has received more than $360 million of Movement profit to invest in schools, affordable housing, communities and global outreach. For more information, visit www.movement.com.