Planet names Adam Hawkins Arizona area sales manager

Planet Home Lending hired Adam Hawkins as area sales manager in Arizona, bringing in a veteran mortgage executive with more than 15 years of experience and two longtime team members. The move underscores Planet’s push to grow its retail lending footprint while leaning on its servicing model and broader loan product mix.

Why it matters: - Planet is adding a veteran originator to help expand its retail lending presence in Arizona and neighboring Western markets. - The hire also highlights Planet’s pitch to mortgage professionals: more product options, retained servicing and support tools that can help build longer-term borrower relationships.

What happened: - Planet named Adam Hawkins area sales manager in Arizona. - Hawkins joins Planet Home with Processor Kristine Burke and Loan Officer Assistant Mike Parrish (NMLS #333923). - Hawkins brings more than 15 years of mortgage industry experience. - Hawkins began his mortgage career in 2011. - Hawkins is based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The details: - Hawkins will lead sales efforts while continuing to originate loans. - Hawkins plans to expand his team’s reach in Arizona, Oregon and Washington. - Hawkins said he wants to mentor loan officers and help them grow their businesses. - Hawkins said Planet’s financing options were a draw, including Buy Now. Sell Later™, non-QM, renovation, business purpose and One-Time Close construction loans. - Hawkins said Planet’s servicing model was another factor in his decision because Planet retains servicing on the majority of its loans. - Hawkins and his team will have access to automated marketing campaigns based on customer insights and lead management technology. - Matt Payan, SVP National Production Distributed Retail at Planet, said Hawkins’ market knowledge and relationships make him a strong fit for the company. - Hawkins said bringing Burke and Parrish with him was an important part of his decision. - Hawkins said the team’s established working relationships give them a strong foundation for growth.

Between the lines: - The move fits Planet’s broader effort to grow its distributed retail business by recruiting producers who can bring teams and existing market relationships. - Planet’s retained-servicing model is a competitive selling point because it can support repeat contact with borrowers after closing. - Hawkins’ focus on three states suggests Planet wants the hire to influence more than one local market.

What's next: - Hawkins will work to grow business in Arizona and extend his team’s reach into Oregon and Washington. - Planet will likely continue using product breadth and servicing retention to recruit mortgage professionals in a shifting market. - Hawkins said he is excited about helping borrowers and loan officers pursue new opportunities, signaling a growth push from his new platform.

The bottom line: - Planet is betting that an experienced loan leader with an established team can help deepen its Western retail footprint while reinforcing its borrower-retention strategy.