Benchmark Mortgage promotes four executives as it expands leadership team

Benchmark Mortgage named four leaders to new executive roles on July 13, 2026, as the Plano-based lender positions itself for continued national growth. The promotions deepen oversight across credit, operations and the company’s ownership structure while Benchmark also pushes a technology upgrade and brand refresh.

Why it matters: - Benchmark Mortgage is tightening its leadership bench as the company enters its next growth phase. - The promotions expand senior oversight across credit, operations, retail, wholesale and builder divisions. - The changes also reinforce Benchmark’s culture-first operating model as the lender scales nationally.

What happened: - Benchmark Mortgage announced four executive promotions on July 13, 2026. - Jim McMahan was promoted to Executive Chairman & Partner. - Jim Poulin was promoted to President & Chief Operating Officer. - Shawn Poe was named Chief Credit Officer. - Brandon Cottone was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations. - The company is based in Plano, Texas.

The details: - McMahan joined Benchmark in 2008 and has been a member of the ownership group. - McMahan previously served as President & Partner and helped shape the company’s culture, sales organization and values-driven identity. - Poulin joined Benchmark in 2008 as EVP of Underwriting Operations. - Poulin most recently served as COO and Chief Credit Officer. - Poulin now formally oversees Benchmark’s retail, wholesale and builder divisions. - Poe has been with Benchmark since 2004. - Poe has spent more than two decades in underwriting and credit operations. - Cottone joined Benchmark in 2013. - Cottone advanced from Pipeline Manager to Director of Branch Support and then Vice President of Operations before this promotion. - Benchmark said the moves reflect what the company calls “The Benchmark Way,” centered on integrity, relationships and doing the right thing. - CEO Norman T. Koenigsberg said the structure puts the right people in the right seats. - McMahan said the Executive Chairman role lets him focus on culture, relationships and building something lasting. - Poulin said the promotion reflects a commitment to transparency, discipline and rewarding people who earned it. - Poe said his focus is to keep credit decisions aligned with Benchmark’s values and provide clear standards for loan officers. - Cottone said he will focus on world-class teams, operational excellence and support for branches and the families they serve.

Between the lines: - Benchmark is signaling continuity, not a reset, by elevating long-tenured insiders into top roles. - The company is pairing leadership changes with a technology partnership with Lender Toolkit to deploy the Prism platform and a refreshed brand identity. - Benchmark also named Koenigsberg CEO in early 2026, adding another key piece to the leadership refresh. - Founder Stewart Hunter framed the changes as the start of a new chapter after 27 years in business.

What’s next: - Benchmark appears to be aligning leadership, technology and branding around its next growth cycle. - The new executive structure should give the lender clearer accountability as it expands nationally. - Continued execution on the Prism rollout and brand refresh will likely show how quickly Benchmark can translate the leadership changes into operating gains.

The bottom line: - Benchmark is promoting from within to preserve its culture while building a more formal leadership structure for growth.