MISMO Selects New President

MISMO has selected Seth Daniel Appleton as its new president. Appleton currently serves as the Assistant Secretary, Policy Development and Research, for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and as the Principal Executive Vice President of Ginnie Mae. He will join MISMO on December 1.

“Seth’s considerable experience in senior leadership roles at HUD will serve MISMO well as it enters an exciting new phase of its standards development work,” said Bob Broeksmit, President and CEO of MBA. “MISMO is helping lead our industry into the digital future, and Seth’s background meeting the competing needs of various stakeholders aligns well with the goals of the organization as it grows and increases its contributions to our industry.”

Appleton joined HUD in 2017 and added his Ginnie Mae position in 2019. He previously served as the Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer and in legislative positions with U.S. Congressman Sam Graves.

“Seth’s background shone through during a very competitive selection process,” said Kurt Pfotenhauer, Chairman of the MISMO board and Vice Chairman of First American. “MISMO is undergoing a transformation to truly become the language of lending for the mortgage industry, allowing everything and everyone to communicate seamlessly. Seth’s knowledge of housing finance and experience with digital transformation make him the right person to take the helm of MISMO.”

“Seth’s leadership has helped Ginnie Mae meet the challenges of the pandemic, providing key capabilities and flexibilities for the market when they were needed most. His understanding of the different perspectives of a range of market participants makes him well-suited to the role of MISMO President,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Research and Industry Technology. “Seth is skilled at bringing groups together to collaborate and achieve results, which is the central mission of MISMO. We are thrilled to have him join MISMO in this new position to help lead the industry forward.”

Appleton is a graduate of Stanford University and is a fellow of the American Academy of Housing and Communities.