Former Fannie Mae President and GM chief marketer named to real estate firms' boards
Two major real estate companies have bolstered their boards of directors with the addition of high-profile figures known for their expertise in finance and marketing.
Opendoor Technologies has brought in former Fannie Mae president David Benson (pictured left) to its board of directors. Benson will also serve on the board’s Audit Committee.
Benson, who retired from Fannie Mae in May 2024, brings a wealth of experience in mortgage finance. During his 20-year tenure the mortgage giant, Benson oversaw both single-family and multifamily business units, along with key corporate functions like finance, IT, operations, strategy, and human resources.
Fannie Mae also credited Benson in leading the launch of the Common Securitization Solutions platform. He held various executive roles during his tenure, including chief financial officer and interim CEO.
“I know that we will benefit from his industry insights and operating expertise as we continue building the largest, most trusted e-commerce platform for residential real estate transactions,” Opendoor CEO and board director Carrie Wheeler said in a press release.
In a separate move, First American Financial Corporation (FAF) has added Deborah Wahl (pictured right), former chief marketing officer for General Motors and Cadillac, to its board of directors.
Wahl’s career spans several top consumer product brands, including McDonald’s and PulteGroup, one of the largest homebuilding companies in the US.
Wahl is widely recognized as a leader in marketing, having been named to both the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame and the CMO Club Hall of Fame. She brings a broad range of board experience, currently serving on the boards of ActionIQ and Mediaocean, and previously holding roles with Groupon, OnStar Insurance, and the Association of National Advertisers.
Read next: NAR settlement: How could it boost the mortgage industry?
“With her extensive experience leading global marketing strategy and helping drive growth for influential brands in a variety of industries, Deborah will be a valuable addition to our board as the company capitalizes on its leadership of the digital transformation of the title and settlement industry,” said FAF chairman Dennis Gilmore.
Stay updated with the freshest mortgage news. Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox, and always be the first to know by subscribing to our FREE daily newsletter.
