Board of Directors

Interested persons can contact the members of Radian's Board of Directors by sending an e-mail message to directors@radian.com. In addition, interested persons may write to the Non-Executive Chairman, Radian Group Inc., 550 East Swedesford Road, Suite 350, Wayne, PA 19087, or to Radian's General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Corporate Responsibility Officer at the same address.

Howard Culang

Howard B. Culang

Non-Executive Chairman of the Board

Independent

Age: 77
Director Since: June 1999

Director Skills/Experience:

  • Business Development
  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Information Technology / Digital Technology
  • Mortgage / Real Estate
  • Operations
  • Risk Management

Skills and Qualifications

Mr. Culang is highly qualified to serve as our Non-executive Chairman of the Board based on his deep institutional knowledge of Radian, his professional background and his decades of experience in the mortgage and financial services industries. Based on his tenure with Radian through multiple economic cycles, including his 17 years of leadership as Chair of the Board’s Risk Committee, Mr. Culang is uniquely positioned to lead our Board and ensure that the Board remains focused on supporting long-term growth for our stockholders. His past management experiences in both mortgage credit and real estate services, in combination with his service on the board of a privately-owned artificial intelligence (“AI”) technology company, provide him with important insights regarding the most critical aspects of our businesses, including how best to support the Company in developing and executing our strategic vision.

Experience

Mr. Culang has been a director of Radian since June 1999, serving as Chair of the Board’s Risk Committee for 17 years before assuming the role of Non-executive Chairman of our Board in December 2021. From November 1985 to December 2005, Mr. Culang worked in various roles for the Prudential Home Mortgage Company (“Prudential”), a mortgage lender, including as a Managing Director and member of the Executive Committee and as Vice Chairman of Residential Services Corporation of America, the holding company for Prudential’s mortgage lending, servicing and real estate services companies. Prior to joining Prudential, Mr. Culang held a number of senior management positions with Citibank, N.A., including as a Senior Credit Officer. More recently, Mr. Culang served as President of Laurel Corporation, a financial services firm, from January 1996 through December 2011. Mr. Culang also served as a Managing Member of JH Capital Management LLC, a management company for a private equity fund, from July 1998 to December 2010, and of Cognitive Capital Management LLC, a management company for a fund of hedge funds, from April 2001 to December 2005. Mr. Culang currently serves as a director of Phase Change Software, LLC (formerly ioSemantics, LLC), a privately-owned AI software company. 

Fawad Ahmad

Fawad Ahmad

Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

Independent

Age: 48
Director Since: February 2023

Committees:

  • Governance
  • Risk

Director Skills/Experience:

  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Information Technology / Digital Technology
  • Insurance / Reinsurance
  • Operations

Skills and Qualifications

Mr. Ahmad brings current experience leading innovative digital, data and analytical organizations, including transformational digital initiatives at several industry-leading companies across the high-tech, e-commerce, retail, and insurance industries. This skill set and experience is highly valuable to our Company, as we continue to pursue opportunities to transform the future of the mortgage and real estate industries. In addition, Mr. Ahmad’s perspective and insights into digital transformations occurring across the financial markets, and more broadly the consumer markets, is highly valuable in supporting the Board’s oversight of the execution of our strategic objectives.

Experience

Mr. Ahmad currently is Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (“State Farm”), a property and casualty insurance provider that, with its affiliates, is the largest provider of auto and home insurance in the United States. Mr. Ahmad joined State Farm in 2016 as Vice President of Digital, and in 2017, was promoted to Vice President in Enterprise Technology – Customer Experience, a role that he held until assuming his current position in 2019. Before joining State Farm, from 2013 to 2016, Mr. Ahmad held leadership roles at Staples Inc., an industry leader in workspace products, including General Manager of Global Omnichannel Product and Strategy. Before that, Mr. Ahmad held the role of General Manager of the North America Core Shipping Platform at eBay Inc., a global commerce leader, responsible for leading the function’s strategy, operations, and strategic partnerships.

Brad Conner

Brad L. Conner

Former Vice Chairman, Consumer Banking, Citizens Financial Group Inc.

Independent

Age: 62
Director Since: February 2020

Committees:

  • Risk (Chair)
  • Compensation and Human Capital Management
  • Governance

Director Skills/Experience:

  • Business Development
  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Financial
  • Information Technology / Digital Technology
  • Insurance / Reinsurance
  • Mortgage / Real Estate
  • Operations
  • Risk Management

Skills and Qualifications

Mr. Conner brings recent C-suite level experience in banking and lending solutions in large, publicly-traded financial institutions, which is a skill set that is highly valuable in supporting the Board’s oversight over virtually all aspects of our business. In addition, his deep knowledge of the mortgage industry provides him with valuable insight into the industries in which we operate and complements the Board’s role in overseeing our strategic direction and supporting the execution of our strategic objectives. These experiences are particularly relevant in Mr. Conner’s role as the Chair of the Risk Committee of our Board.

Experience

Mr. Conner recently served as Vice Chairman, Head of Consumer Banking for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (“Citizens”), a publicly-traded financial institution, beginning in January 2014 and through his retirement from this role in January 2020. In this role, Mr. Conner was responsible for Retail Banking, Business Banking, Wealth Management, Home Lending Solutions, Auto Finance and Education Finance, as well as Citizens’ Consumer Phone Bank and online channels. Before joining Citizens in 2008, Mr. Conner served as President of the Home Equity and Mortgage Home Loan Direct business of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., a publicly-traded global financial services firm. Prior to this, he oversaw the combined Home Equity business of Chase and Bank One Corporation, a publicly traded global financial services firm, after the companies merged in 2004, and served as Chief Executive Officer of Chase’s Education Finance businesses. Mr. Conner currently serves as a director of United Services Automobile Association (“USAA”), a diversified financial services group of companies that provides insurance, investing and banking solutions to members of the U.S. military, veterans and military families and serves as chairman of the board of USAA Federal Savings Bank, a bank owned by USAA.

Debra Hess

Debra Hess

Former Chief Financial Officer, NorthStar Asset Management Group and NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.

Independent

Age: 59
Director Since: March 2019

Committees:

  • Audit (Chair)
  • Finance and Investment

Director Skills/Experience:

  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Financial
  • Mortgage / Real Estate
  • Other Public Co. Board
  • Risk Management

Current Public Company Directorship:

  • AG Mortgage Investment Trust Inc.

Former Public Company Directorship:

  • Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust

Skills and Qualifications

Ms. Debra Hess’ extensive banking, finance and real estate asset management experience provides her with valuable insight into our businesses, the industries in which we operate and the various factors impacting our strategic direction. In addition, her roles as the Chief Financial Officer of various publicly-traded companies and her executive management experience with companies in the financial services and mortgage and real estate industries provide her with significant financial, accounting and compliance expertise in areas that are valuable to the Board’s oversight responsibilities and in particular to her role as Chair of the Audit Committee of our Board.

Experience

Ms. Hess served as Chief Financial Officer of both NorthStar Asset Management Group, a global asset management firm focused on strategically managing real estate and other investment platforms, and NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., a publicly-traded real estate investment company (together with NorthStar Asset Management Group (“Northstar”), from July 2011 until January 2017. Additionally, from 2011 until 2015, Ms. Hess held various other positions, including Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for NorthStar’s non-publicly traded companies. Prior to joining NorthStar, from August 2008 to June 2011, Ms. Hess served as Chief Financial Officer of H/2 Capital Partners, a privately-owned fund sponsor that invests in real estate related assets. From March 2003 to July 2008, Ms. Hess was a managing director at Fortress Investment Group (“Fortress”), an investment management firm, where she also served as Chief Financial Officer of Newcastle Investment Corp., a Fortress portfolio company and a NYSE-listed real estate investment trust. Prior to joining Fortress, Ms. Hess served in various positions at Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”), including as Vice President in Goldman Sachs’ Principal Finance Group and as a Manager of Financial Reporting in Goldman Sachs’ Finance Division. Ms. Hess currently serves on the board of directors of AG Mortgage Investment Trust, Inc., a publicly-traded mortgage real estate investment trust, where she serves as non-executive chair of the board, chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee and as a member of the audit and compensation committees. She also serves on the board of CenterPoint Properties Trust, a privately owned acquirer, developer and manager of industrial real estate and transportation infrastructure, where she chairs the audit committee and serves as a member of the compensation committee.

Lisa Hess

Lisa W. Hess

Former President and Managing Partner, SkyTop Capital Management LLC

Independent

Age: 68
Director Since: February 2011

Committees:

  • Compensation and Human Capital Management
  • Governance
  • Risk

Director Skills/Experience:

  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Financial
  • Risk Management

Skills and Qualifications

Ms. Lisa Hess’ extensive experience managing financial assets, including her recent leadership role with SkyTop Capital Management LLC (“SkyTop”), and previously as Chief Investment Officer of Loews Corporation, and as a member of various investment and advisory committees, gives her a broad range of expertise with respect to finance, investments and the capital markets that is particularly beneficial to the Board in its oversight responsibilities and in supporting our strategic focus. In addition, her board service with Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (“TIAA”) brings an added perspective and insight to the Board’s consideration of corporate governance issues and the concerns of institutional shareholders.

Experience

Ms. Hess served as President and Managing Partner of SkyTop, an investment fund, from October 2010 through July 2020. From October 2002 to December 2008, she was the Chief Investment Officer of Loews Corporation, a diversified holding company, where she was responsible for managing approximately $50 billion in assets. Ms. Hess was a Founding Partner of Zesiger Capital Group, a diversified money manager, and also has held positions at First Boston Corporation, an investment bank, Odyssey Partners, a private equity firm, and Goldman Sachs. She has served on the U.S. Treasury Debt Advisory Committee and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Investors Advisory Committee. Since June 2009, Ms. Hess has been a trustee of TIAA, a financial services organization, and she also served as a director of TIAA Bank from 2015 until its sale by TIAA to private investors in 2023.

Anne Leyden

Former Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, TransUnion

Independent

Age: 63
Director Since: August 2023

Committees:

  • Compensation and Human Capital Management (Chair)
  • Finance and Investment

Director Skills/Experience:

  • Human Capital Management
  • CEO or C-Suite
  • Operations
  • Business Development

Skills and Qualifications

Ms. Leyden brings recent executive level experience in human capital management in large publicly traded global information and financial institutions, including experience in succession planning, integration of strategic acquisitions and the development of operating models. In addition, her executive management experience with companies operating in the mortgage, consumer lending and other financial services industries provide her with valuable knowledge and insights about the industries in which we operate. This skill set and experience is highly valuable to our Company and complements our Board’s other expertise, as we further our commitment to maximizing talent within our organization in support of our strategic objectives.

Experience

Ms. Leyden is a senior human resources executive with broad-based business leadership experience in the financial services and consumer credit sectors. From 2014 until 2021, Ms. Leyden served as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer for TransUnion, a consumer credit reporting agency and a leading global information and insights company operating in 30 countries. Prior to joining TransUnion, from 1994 to 2012, Ms. Leyden spent 18 years in various roles with JP Morgan Chase (“JP Morgan”) and Bank One (before its acquisition by JP Morgan), including as Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources for JP Morgan’s Retail Financial Services division, which included its nationwide Mortgage, Retail Banking, Auto and other Consumer Lending organizations. Following her retirement from TransUnion, Ms. Leyden has, from time-to-time provided human capital management advisory services to various companies.

Brian Montgomery

Brian D. Montgomery

Chairman and Co-Founder, Partner, Gate House Strategies, LLC and Former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

Independent

Age: 67
Director Since: May 2012
(rejoined June 2021 after serving in HUD)

Committees:

  • Audit
  • Governance
  • Risk

Director Skills/Experience:

  • Business Development
  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Government / Regulatory
  • Information Technology / Digital Technology
  • Insurance / Reinsurance
  • Mortgage / Real Estate
  • Operations
  • Risk Management

Skills and Qualifications

As the only person to have been confirmed twice by the U.S. Senate to lead the FHA while also serving concurrently as HUD Deputy Secretary, Mr. Montgomery possesses a deep working knowledge of the mortgage finance industry, federal housing policies and the federal regulation of housing. This expertise is extremely valuable in supporting the Board’s oversight over the Company’s mortgage insurance business generally, and specifically over the operations and the credit and risk management aspects of our businesses, as well as helping the Company develop the most effective strategy for navigating the regulatory and legislative landscape in the housing and mortgage finance industries.

Experience

Mr. Montgomery completed his second tenure at HUD in January 2021, most recently serving as the Deputy Secretary of HUD. Prior to his most recent role as Deputy Secretary, Mr. Montgomery served as FHA Commissioner from 2005 to 2009 and from 2018 to 2020. Since May 2021, Mr. Montgomery has been a partner with Gate House Strategies, LLC, an advisory firm he co-founded that is focused on housing finance-related compliance, as well as other housing-related areas such as technology, business strategy, and affordable/public housing. From August 2009 until 2017, Mr. Montgomery served in various executive leadership roles with The Collingwood Group, LLC, a consulting firm, including serving as Vice Chairman. He previously served as a director of the Company from 2012 to 2018, stepping down upon his appointment to rejoin HUD as FHA Commissioner in May 2018. Mr. Montgomery recently joined the Board of The Mortgage Collaborative, an independent network of mortgage lending institutions focused on empowering mortgage lending across the country and the Advisory Board of the American Institute of Servicing and Legal Executives (AISLE) Institute, which is a high-level forum for executives in the creditors’ rights industry.

Lisa Mumford

Lisa Mumford

Former Chief Financial Officer, Ellington Financial LLC and Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT

Independent

Age: 60
Director Since: February 2020

Committees:

  • Finance and Investment (Chair)
  • Audit

Director Skills/Experience:

  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Financial
  • Insurance / Reinsurance
  • Mortgage / Real Estate
  • Other Public Co. Board
  • Risk Management

Current Public Company Directorship:

  • Ellington Financial, Inc.

Former Public Company Directorship:

  • Ellington Residential Mortgage
  • REIT

Skills and Qualifications

Ms. Mumford brings recent and highly valuable C-suite level experience and insight that benefits the Board in overseeing virtually all aspects of our business. Her past experience as the Chief Financial Officer of insurance company enterprises provides her with extensive risk management experience, which is a core area of focus for Radian. Her public company experience and her ongoing service on another public company board provides additional perspectives on board leadership and governance that complement the Board’s collective strengths. In addition, her deep knowledge and experience in finance and real estate management provides her with valuable knowledge about the industries in which we operate. These experiences are particularly relevant in Ms. Mumford’s role as Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee of our Board.

Experience

Ms. Mumford served as the Chief Financial Officer of Ellington Financial LLC (“Ellington Financial”), a publicly-traded asset management company, and as Chief Financial Officer of Ellington Financial Management LLC (Ellington Financial’s external manager), from October 2009 through her retirement in March 2018. Ms. Mumford also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT, a publicly-traded real estate investment trust, from April 2013 until her retirement in March 2018. From August 2008 to October 2009, Ms. Mumford served as Chief Financial Officer of ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation, a monoline bond insurance company, and prior to this, from 2003 until August 2008, Ms. Mumford served as the Chief Accounting Officer of ACA Capital Holdings, Inc. (“ACA”), a publicly-traded holding company providing financial guaranty insurance products and asset management services. Prior to joining ACA, and beginning in 1988, Ms. Mumford was with ACE Guaranty Corp., a financial guaranty company, where she held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Controller. Ms. Mumford currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Ellington Financial, Inc.

Gregory Serio

Gregory V. Serio

Partner, Park Strategies, LLC

Independent

Age: 62
Director Since: May 2012

Committees:

  • Audit
  • Finance and Investment
  • Risk

Director Skills/Experience:

  • Government / Regulatory
  • Insurance / Reinsurance
  • Mortgage / Real Estate
  • Risk Management

Skills and Qualifications

From both his private and public sector roles, Mr. Serio possesses extensive knowledge and experience in the insurance industry and insurance regulatory matters in particular. His in-depth understanding of insurance regulatory matters, including financial and market conduct examinations and other compliance-related matters, combined with his experience in risk management and corporate governance matters, further strengthens the Board’s oversight and perspective in these areas. He is an active member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (“NACD”) and has held the Board Leadership Fellow designation of the NACD, which provides him with added perspective and insight into the Board’s corporate governance responsibilities. He has been recognized in courts and other tribunals as an expert on insurance and insurance regulatory matters.

Experience

Mr. Serio has served as a partner with Park Strategies, LLC (“Park Strategies”), a management and government relations consulting firm, since January 2005. He currently serves as the head of Park Strategies’ risk and insurance management practice group. He is also a partner in the D’Amato Law Group, a New York-based legal practice and is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut. Prior to joining Park Strategies, Mr. Serio served as Superintendent of Insurance for the State of New York from May 2001 to January 2005. From January 1995 until his appointment as Superintendent in 2001, Mr. Serio served as First Deputy Superintendent and General Counsel (the latter from 1995 to 1997) of the New York Insurance Department. Mr. Serio also has served as the Chairman of the Government Affairs Task Force of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) and as a member of and NAIC representative on the Financial Services and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee of the United States Treasury. He was also a commissioner of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims. Prior to his role in insurance regulation, Mr. Serio was the chief counsel to the New York Senate Standing Committee on Insurance. In addition to his board membership at Radian, he currently serves as lead trustee of the Senior Health Insurance Plan Trust and director of the Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, two positions to which he was appointed by the Commissioner of Insurance of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2019, he was appointed to the board of the Capital District Physicians Health Plan, a not-for-profit healthcare organization in New York, for which he serves as chair of its Governance Committee. Mr. Serio also currently serves on the board and as president/treasurer of PHL Group, a private insurance company.

Noel Spiegel

Noel J. Spiegel

Retired Deputy Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Independent

Age: 76
Director Since: February 2011

Committees:

  • Governance (Chair)
  • Compensation and Human Capital Management

Director Skills/Experience:

  • Business Development
  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Financial
  • Information Technology / Digital Technology
  • Other Public Co. Board
  • Risk Management

Current Public Company Directorship:

  • American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

Former Public Company Directorship:

  • Vringo, Inc.
  • vTv Therapeutics, Inc.

Skills and Qualifications

Mr. Spiegel’s public company board experience provides him with a depth of experience in management, corporate governance, risk management and financial reporting. His current experience in serving on the governance committees of other publicly-traded companies provides him with a unique perspective and depth of insight with respect to corporate governance, board leadership and corporate strategy. In October 2020, the NACD named Mr. Spiegel to the 2020 NACD Directorship 100, an annual award that recognizes leading corporate directors, corporate governance experts, policymakers, and influencers who significantly impact boardroom practices and performance. Mr. Spiegel’s experience and recognized expertise are particularly relevant in Mr. Spiegel’s role as Chair of the Governance Committee of our Board.

Experience

Mr. Spiegel was a partner at Deloitte & Touche, LLP (“Deloitte”) where he practiced from September 1969 until May 2010. In his career at Deloitte, he served in numerous management positions, including as Deputy Managing Partner; a member of Deloitte’s Executive Committee; Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Transaction Assurance practice, Global Offerings and International Financial Reporting Standards practice and Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice (Northeast Region); and as Partner-in-Charge of Audit Operations in Deloitte’s New York Office. Mr. Spiegel currently serves as Lead Independent Director, chairs the audit committee and serves on the nominating and governance committee of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a publicly-traded retail company.

Rick Thornberry

Richard G. Thornberry

Chief Executive Officer, Radian Group Inc.

Age: 65
Director Since: March 2017

Director Skills/Experience:

  • Business Development
  • CEO or other C-Suite
  • Financial
  • Information Technology / Digital Technology
  • Mortgage / Real Estate
  • Operations
  • Risk Management

Skills and Qualifications

Mr. Thornberry possesses a broad understanding of the mortgage and real estate industries and has significant experience building and leading innovative and values-driven organizations in the mortgage and real estate industries. In addition, his past experiences provide him with financial management, human capital management and risk management expertise that gives him a unique perspective and set of skills to lead our Company and contribute to the Board.

Experience

Mr. Thornberry has served as Radian’s Chief Executive Officer since March 2017. Before joining Radian, from 2006 until 2017, Mr. Thornberry served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NexSpring Group, LLC (“NexSpring Group”), a company that he co-founded in 2006. NexSpring Group has provided mortgage industry advisory and technology services to private equity investors, mortgage lenders, financial institutions, mortgage investors and other mortgage industry participants. Mr. Thornberry also has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NexSpring Financial, LLC, a fintech company that he cofounded to focus on improving the overall value proposition for all participants in a residential mortgage origination transaction. Prior to founding NexSpring Group, from 1999 until 2005, Mr. Thornberry served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nexstar Financial Corporation, an end-to-end mortgage business process outsourcing firm, which he co-founded in 1999 and sold to MBNA Home Finance in 2005. Mr. Thornberry has also held executive positions with MBNA Home Finance from 2005 until 2006, Citicorp Mortgage Inc. from 1996 until 1998 and Residential Services Corporation of America/ Prudential Home Mortgage Company from 1987 until 1996. Mr. Thornberry currently serves as an executive council member of the Housing Policy Council and on the board of directors of MBA Open Doors Foundation, which provides mortgage and rental payment assistance to families with a critically ill or injured child. Mr. Thornberry began his career as a certified public accountant at Deloitte where he primarily worked with financial services clients and entrepreneurial businesses.