Since taking on responsibility for all Selene Holdings' business lines earlier this year, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Doug Whittemore has been focused on product development and scale by drawing on his 25 years of bank and nondepository experience.

Whittemore — who previously led teams at U.S. Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Mr. Cooper and Citibank — said he's focused on helping Selene achieve scale while addressing diverse needs clients of the servicing, diligence and title solutions provider have.

"Doug, a seasoned veteran in the industry, brings over two decades of leadership experience in mortgage banking, default servicing operations and strategic growth," Selene CEO Joe Davila said in a press release announcing Whittemore's appointment in May. "His experience leading major strategic initiatives will play a crucial role in Selene's continued advancement in innovation to meet the needs of today's market and tomorrow's opportunities."

In a conversation with National Mortgage News, Whittemore weighed in on the distinct needs of loans that lie outside the qualified mortgage definition, and those that are non- or reperforming. He also discussed technology such as artificial intelligence, industry best practices. 

In addition, Whittemore talked about how he works in partnership with Selene Finance President Jocelyn Martin-Leano, who bears responsibility for oversight of that unit's operations and also joined the company earlier this year.

His remarks on all these topics, edited for clarity and length, follow.