Sagent Appoints Chris Marshall as CEO to Scale AI-Powered Mortgage Platform Dara
Sagent has named Chris Marshall as its new Chief Executive Officer, starting January 5. The leadership change comes as the company prepares to scale its Dara mortgage servicing platform, a cloud-based system designed for the U.S. housing market.
Marshall steps into the role after serving as Sagent’s board chairman and executive chairman since 2022. He replaces Geno Paluso, who will transition to vice chairman and remain a senior advisor during the handover.
Marshall brings decades of financial services experience to Sagent. Before joining the company, he held senior roles at major institutions, including vice chairman and president of Mr. Cooper, chief restructuring officer at Ally Bank, and chief financial officer at Fifth Third Bank. Earlier in his career, he also led operational teams at Bank of America.
His immediate focus will be on expanding Dara, Sagent’s flagship platform. Described as the first of its kind, Dara unifies mortgage servicing across core operations, consumer interactions, and default management. The system uses real-time data and AI to streamline processes, cut costs, and ensure compliance. Marshall will continue as Sagent’s board chairman while overseeing daily operations. He will work alongside the executive team and collaborate with outgoing CEO Geno Paluso to ensure a smooth transition. The company aims to position Dara as a leading solution for lenders and servicers in the U.S. mortgage industry.
The leadership shift places Marshall at the helm of Sagent’s growth strategy. His background in restructuring, finance, and mortgage operations aligns with the company’s push to modernize servicing technology.
Dara’s open-API design and AI-driven features are intended to reduce operational burdens while improving user experiences. The platform’s rollout will be a key priority under Marshall’s leadership.
