The controversial lender attempts to reinvent its image
Better.com, the embattled mortgage fintech that fired thousands of people earlier this year, has made a series of appointments to “strengthen” its senior leadership team and “position the company for sustainable long-term growth.”
The company has tapped Sushil Sharma as its first chief growth officer and Steve Riddell as head of sales. Sharma brings more than two decades of industry experience, including time spent as chief product officer at LendingTree and online dating company Match. Meanwhile, Riddell has over 30 years of sales experience. He most recently served as chief sales officer at Blinds.com, which was acquired by Home Depot.
In a statement, Better CEO Vishal Garg said the expansion of its leadership team “will be pivotal to achieving our next phase of growth.”
Read more: Better.com Zoom firing fallout – the lessons to learn
“Better’s mission to make homeownership simpler, faster, and more affordable instantly drew me in,” Sharma said. “A home is much more than a place to live: it provides stability to raise a family and is one of the biggest financial assets an individual can own. I am excited to join Better’s senior leadership and help people achieve their American dream.”
“Better is committed to removing the complexity around homeownership and tailoring solutions to the needs of its customers,” said Riddell. “We are only scratching the surface of what is possible on this platform, and I look forward to delivering the best experience possible to the individuals and families that rely on us every single day.”
Also now part of the Better executive roster are Ryan Jewison (head of Better Cover), Nick Taylor (head of Better Real Estate), Josh Durodola (head of Better Services), Brian Ro (vice president of people), Jennifer Malin (vice president of enterprise risk), and Nitin Bhutani (vice president of marketing).
Read next: Better.com job cuts – thousands more coming: report
In the past several months, Better has let go of roughly 3,000 employees in the US and India, representing about 35% of its total workforce. The company has also seen a flurry of executives depart after the multiple waves of layoffs.
In its recent announcement, Better said it plans to continue bolstering its team to “provide the best homeownership experience possible for its customers.”
