In Brief: Finet.Com Adds Former Countrywide Exec

SAN RAMON, Calif. - Finet.com Inc., which owns Monument Mortgage, named Ralph Mozilo, a former Countrywide Credit Industries executive, special adviser to its board of directors last week.

Mr. Mozilo will also be the chairman of a newly formed business-to-business advisory board of 15 mortgage brokers from around the country.

They are to monitor the mortgage industry and "develop and propose strategic initiatives to further advance the delivery of automated solutions to the mortgage broker community," the company said in a statement.

Mr. Mozilo was an executive vice president of business builder development for Countrywide's main operating subsidiary, Countrywide Home Loans.

He retired in 1999; his brother is Countrywide's founder and chairman, Angelo Mozilo.

"We are extremely honored and excited that Ralph had accepted our offer," said Rick Cossano, president and chief executive officer of Finet.com, in a statement. "Ralph is a seasoned, highly regarded mortgage professional who will help to accelerate our nationwide business-to-business expansion."

Mr. Cossano is also a former Countrywide executive. He headed wholesale lending for the Calabasas, Calif., company and later was president of its LandSafe Inc. subsidiary.

"Finet.com is fortunate to be joined by an industry leader with the experience and knowledge of Ralph Mozilo," said Patrick Sheehy, senior vice president of marketing, sales, and production at Freddie Mac. "I have no doubt that he will bring tremendous value to Finet."

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