Dark Matter Technologies, a provider of mortgage technology backed by time-tested loan origination software and leadership, announced the appointment of Michael Housch as chief risk and information security officer. Housch, a C-suite and information security veteran of 25 years, joins Dark Matter following an eight-year stint with Black Knight Inc.
“Mike is a leader whose unparalleled credentials and industry experience are perfectly matched to the challenge Dark Matter is undertaking, which is nothing less than a dramatic reimagination of the mortgage lending process,” said Dark Matter CEO Rich Gagliano. “For nearly a decade, Mike ensured our team’s security kept up with our pace of innovation, and he’s got the discipline and imagination Dark Matter needs to accelerate that pace and unleash our industry’s untapped potential.”
As Black Knight’s chief information security officer (CISO), Housch developed and managed the company’s information security vision and strategy to effectively safeguard its information assets and technology. At Florida-based Dark Matter, Housch will likewise oversee a comprehensive DevSecOps program spanning vulnerability management, identity access, cloud architecture, incident response, governance and regulatory audit oversight. In addition, Housch will be responsible for assessing and mitigating Dark Matter’s operational, compliance and strategic risks at the enterprise level.
“Rich’s vision for Dark Matter presents an invigorating opportunity to apply the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained and lessons I’ve learned over a 25-year career,” said Housch. “The allure lies in Dark Matter’s limitless potential. It’s an open field where we can pioneer new approaches and reshape the mortgage landscape from the ground up, with risk and security woven into our strategy from day one. We’re about to transform the industry where we’ve all dedicated our careers.”
Prior to Black Knight, Housch served as chief information officer at First Federal Bank of Florida for more than a dozen years. There, he was responsible for keeping the bank on the cutting edge of innovation while also overseeing day-to-day operations and decisions related to institutional growth and efficiency, including oversight of information technology (IT), information security, physical security, electronic banking and business continuity. Housch earned his master’s degree in business administration from Florida’s Jacksonville University in 2022.
