Longbridge Financial Names Melissa Macerato President and Chief Commercial Officer
Promotion recognizes more than a decade of executive leadership shaping Longbridge's growth, strategic direction, and
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Longbridge Financial, LLC, a leading national mortgage lender and servicer specializing in home equity solutions for older Americans, today announced the promotion of Melissa Macerato from chief revenue and marketing officer to president and chief commercial officer.
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Melissa Macerato named president and chief commercial officer of Longbridge Financial
Macerato has been a key member of Longbridge’s leadership team since joining the company in 2012. She has helped guide its growth from an emerging reverse mortgage lender into a leading mortgage lender serving homeowners 55 and older, with a 31% market share and annualized growth exceeding 40% since January 2024.
The promotion recognizes more than a decade of contributions to Longbridge’s business strategy, organizational development, and culture.
“Melissa has represented the heart and soul of Longbridge since joining us during our startup phase, when we didn’t have a single loan officer. She led the development of our entire sales, marketing, and training departments, which together now account for more than 40% of our employees,” said Christopher Mayer, Ph.D., CEO of Longbridge Financial and the Paul Milstein Professor Emeritus of Real Estate at Columbia Business School. “Over the years, Longbridge’s sales team has reached new highs in productivity, even amid the challenges of a high-interest-rate environment. Under Melissa’s leadership, Longbridge has achieved and maintained its No. 1 position as the industry’s largest third-party originator, with continued gains in volume and market share and a deep commitment to helping our partners grow their businesses. Equally important, she has been instrumental in building our unique culture, where 94% of employees say Longbridge is a great place to work.”
Throughout her tenure, Macerato has overseen sales, training, marketing, and human resources, along with Longbridge’s newly formed product development division, building the teams, infrastructure, and capabilities needed to support the company’s expansion.
Working closely with Mayer and the executive leadership team, she helped bring HELOC For Seniors® — a home equity line of credit designed specifically for homeowners 62 and older — from concept to market. She has also helped grow Longbridge’s proprietary Platinum reverse mortgage portfolio, supporting the company’s product diversification and business performance.
Macerato brings more than two decades of leadership experience across banking, mortgage lending, and financial services. She began her career at MBNA America, where she served as a vice president, before joining GE Capital as a senior director. At GE Capital, she was selected as one of the original participants in its Six Sigma quality process management program and achieved Black Belt status.
She later joined MetLife and MetLife Bank, where she rose to lead reverse mortgage sales. She hired more than 150 salespeople and managers, helping establish MetLife as a leading reverse mortgage lender. Following MetLife’s decision to begin winding down MetLife Bank, Macerato joined Longbridge in 2012, a few months after its founding.
In June 2026, Macerato completed the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an executive education program focused on strategic leadership and organizational performance. The experience reinforced the principles of trust, empowerment, and integrity that guide her approach to developing talent, strengthening teams, and fostering collaboration at Longbridge.
Macerato’s industry recognition includes being named a 2026 HousingWire Woman of Influence, one of Industry Era Women Leaders’ “10 Best Inspiring Leaders of 2021,” and a recipient of the “Powerhouse” Award from NEXT Mortgage News. She was also featured in a 2023 cover story highlighting female executives in Reverse Mortgage magazine, the official publication of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.
In her new role, Macerato will help lead Longbridge’s next phase of growth, expanding the choices available to borrowers 55 and older as they consider how home equity can fit into a responsible retirement plan. Her expanded responsibilities include leading the rollout of a new suite of products and tools to help lenders and borrowers better understand their options.
About Longbridge Financial
Longbridge Financial, LLC (NMLS #957935), is a nationally recognized mortgage lender and servicer that helps older homeowners access home equity through flexible, responsible lending solutions designed to support a more secure retirement. Founded in 2012 and led by an Ivy League professor, the company combines industry expertise with a commitment to education, innovation, and transparency. Its mission is to empower aging Americans with the tools and insights to help make confident financial decisions in or near retirement.
For more information about Longbridge Financial or to request an interview, visit longbridge-financial.com/newsroom.
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