News of NEXA Mortgage’s co-founder Mat Grella being terminated from the company rocked the boat last week, but the remaining founder and CEO Kortas assures that the executive partner team will keep the company steadfast on their course. There’s no need to fill Grella’s former position as president, Kortas said, but the company is looking for a new chief financial officer (CFO).
“There is no need for it. CEO and President are essentially the same thing with many holding both titles,” Kortas said, using United Wholesale Mortgage’s Mat Ishbia and Equity Prime Mortgage’s Eddy Perez as examples.
Although the director of AXEN Mortgage, a division of NEXA Mortgage, Michael Neill referred to Grella as the “rudder” of the ship that is NEXA, Kortas said executive director Rana Mortensen already does a superb job fulfilling that role, along with NEXA’s in-house counsel to provide legal guidance.
Being more of a visionary, Kortas admits he does need people to balance out or refine his overly ambitious goals – or “vet my crazy ideas” as he puts it. But, he assures that his executive partner team, including D.J. Christofferson, Renato Rodic, Jason DuPont, Branden Himler, and Neill, have always and will always continue to do that.
Moving forward, Kortas stated he will be retiring the president title, since he “never needed anyone for that position.” Instead, he will focus on filling other open positions, like chief financial officer (CFO). NEXA was authorized to hire a CFO last summer, but the process was never started, so Kortas will be conducting the search now.
Specifically, NEXA is looking for a CFO with extensive financial background and the ability to take on new industries besides just mortgage, since the company is involved with aviation as well. But, mortgage experience is preferred.
Anyone that is interested in the position should reach out to NEXA or contact Kortas directly.
“I am the Chief Strategy Officer more than I am a CEO I’d say,” Kortas added. “I’m ready to do the job of 10. This isn’t rocket science, it just requires a grind mentality. And I love every minute of what I do (including the drama).”
