Residential lender Homespire Mortgage has announced the addition of Kevin Whatley to its leadership team.

In his new role as regional manager, Whatley will lead Homespire’s expansion and business development in the Texas and South-Central region. He will focus on continuing to grow the company’s team and reach in these two regions, with initial priority placed on Texas and Louisiana.

The seasoned mortgage leader brings more than 25 years of industry experience to his position. Before joining Homespire, he was regional manager at FirstTrust Home Loans. He has also held a variety of senior mortgage roles at Universal Home Mortgage, Hometown Lenders, Nationstar Mortgage, Worldwide Lending, and Citi.

“At Homespire, we believe our people make all the difference. Kevin’s knowledge and experience in the South-Central region will be a true asset in helping to grow our company’s presence so that we can further our mission to help more homeowners responsibly and affordably finance their dream of homeownership,” said Listy Limon, vice president of national production at Homespire Mortgage. “We are beyond excited to welcome him to the Homespire team.”

“Other recruiters will say anything to get you on board,” Whatley said. “I chose to build my success on real connections with people. Homespire represents a company with an amazing culture, a terrific trajectory, and a genuine commitment to delivering an exceptional mortgage experience that borrowers trust. I look forward to growing and cultivating both our team and client business.”