HousingWireHousingWire
Former loanDepot CEO Frank Martell has officially moved on. SmartRent Inc., a provider of smart community technology solutions for the rental housing industry, on Monday announced that Martell will take on the roles of president and CEO effective immediately.
Martell, who has been a member of SmartRent’s board of directors and served on the board’s audit, nominating and corporate governance committees since June 2024, will be tasked with accelerating the adoption of SmartRent’s platform.
A press release from SmartRent explained that Martell will lead the company’s executive team with “a clear focus on delivering measurable value for customers and shareholders by enhancing portfolio performance, operational efficiency and resident and team satisfaction.”
The job change comes after an early March announcement from loanDepot that Anthony Hsieh, the company’s chairman of the board, founder and controlling shareholder, would return as executive chairman of mortgage operations. The announcement also detailed that Martell would step down by June 4 and transition to a board advisory role with loanDepot.
“Frank possesses a rare combination of strategic insight, operational discipline and innovative thinking — essential strengths as we work to increase platform adoption and scale our impact,” John Dorman, chairman of the board of directors at SmartRent, said in a statement. “Because he has been deeply involved as a board member in our transition over the past year, I am confident that Frank will seamlessly move into the CEO role and lead from day one.”
“He steps in at a critical time for SmartRent, our investors and customers, and we’re confident his leadership will enhance the quality of our execution, strengthen our market-leading position and drive meaningful, long-term value for shareholders,” Dorman added.
Prior to loanDepot, Martell spent more than a decade at Cotality (formerly known as CoreLogic), where he served as chief financial officer, chief operating officer and eventually as CEO.
“SmartRent has built a strong foundation as a category leader in smart property technology, with purpose-built solutions, deep industry relationships and a dedicated team committed to solving real operational challenges,” Martell said in a statement. “Having spent the past two decades leading data- and technology-driven organizations that support the real estate industry, I see tremendous opportunity to expand our impact and build on the company’s leadership.
“I’m proud to partner with our talented team as we deliver game-changing solutions that empower customers and redefine what’s possible in property technology. With our ongoing platform enhancements and investment in customer success, I believe we’re poised to unlock the potential of the next generation of innovation in smart home technology in the years ahead.”
