MISMO adds VantageScore, Guild and FICO

The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) has added three new executives to its board of directors. Anthony Hutchinson of VantageScore, Gemma Currier of Guild Mortgage, and Eric Lapin of FICO joined the board, the organization announced on Friday. The appointments were approved during MISMO's Fall Summit in Reston, Virginia.

MISMO, a subsidiary of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), develops data and technology standards for the real estate finance industry. The board provides strategic direction, prioritizing work to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and support innovation for lenders, servicers, investors, and technology vendors.

"The addition of Tony, Gemma, and Eric to our Board is another significant step forward for MISMO and its strategic goals," said MISMO President Brian Vieaux. He stated their leadership would support efforts to increase awareness and drive adoption of standards across the mortgage ecosystem.

Focus on credit and AI modernization

The appointments of leaders from VantageScore and FICO highlight MISMO's intensified focus on modernizing credit scores and credit reporting. The mortgage industry is preparing to adopt new credit models, use expanded data sources, and integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into credit decisions and loan manufacturing.

This push comes as the Federal Housing Finance Agency moves Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac toward using new credit scoring models, including VantageScore 4.0. Standardization of credit data and processes is becoming more critical for lenders and other firms that must update their systems and risk frameworks.

Anthony Hutchinson is executive vice president and head of public affairs at VantageScore. He brings nearly three decades of experience in housing, financial services, and public policy, including roles at Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and the National Association of Realtors. MISMO said his background will bolster engagement with policymakers and regulators.

"I am honored to join the MISMO Board of Directors and serve alongside the leaders shaping the future of the mortgage finance industry," Hutchinson said. "MISMO plays a critical role in establishing the standards and infrastructure that enable our industry to innovate, operate more efficiently, and better serve the housing market."

Eric Lapin is vice president and head of strategy and market intelligence at FICO. His experience in credit analytics and market intelligence is expected to help MISMO identify where additional standardization can support innovation. "The mortgage industry only moves forward when its pieces move together, origination, servicing, capital markets and technology," Lapin said. "Standardization is what unites the ecosystem."

Lender perspective and industry impact

Gemma Currier is senior vice president of corporate strategic initiatives at Guild Mortgage, one of the nation's largest independent mortgage lenders. According to data from mortgage tech platform RETR, Guild has originated $29.3 billion in volume over the past 12 months across more than 87,000 closed loans.

MISMO stated that Currier's production background and lender relationships will help keep standards aligned with day-to-day business needs and measurable outcomes. "As technology continues to reshape our industry, I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to advance standards that enable greater interoperability, efficiency and innovation across the mortgage ecosystem," Currier said.

The new directors join as MISMO expands workstreams in credit, AI governance, data quality, and digital mortgage transformation. At the recent Fall Summit, leaders from FICO, VantageScore, TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian participated in a panel on credit modernization and the growing role of AI in credit decisioning.