Key facts
- Archwell Capital appointed Mike Middleman as its new CEO on September 18.
- Middleman previously served as managing director and vice chairman at Freedom Mortgage.
- He is also a co-founder and executive chairman of Moder, Archwell Capital's business intelligence company.
- James Blanco was appointed chief operating officer, joining from Guggenheim Partners.
- Melissa Rubenstein was named general counsel after over 20 years in private practice.
- Raj Patel, formerly of Freedom Mortgage, is the new chief financial officer.
Archwell Capital announced on September 18 that Mike Middleman has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer. This leadership change coincides with the firm's strategic expansion into various sectors including mortgage lending, insurance, commercial real estate, and sports.
Middleman brings extensive experience from his previous role as managing director and vice chairman at Freedom Mortgage. He is also a co-founder and the executive chairman of Moder, Archwell Capital's business intelligence company specializing in AI and operations services for financial institutions. Additionally, he has been involved in developing BrightCover, Archwell Capital's insurance business.
In his new capacity as CEO, Middleman will be responsible for overseeing Archwell Capital's existing investments and operating companies, as well as deploying new capital across its diverse industry portfolio. He emphasized the firm's operational focus, stating, "Archwell Capital is an investment management company built by operators... enabling us to provide active capital to the companies we incubate, build, and in which we invest."
The firm also bolstered its executive team with several key appointments. James Blanco joins as chief operating officer, bringing experience from Guggenheim Partners and OneMain Financial. Melissa Rubenstein has been appointed general counsel, having spent over two decades in private practice. Raj Patel, formerly leading finance at Freedom Mortgage, will serve as chief financial officer. Kat Rugge is the new chief people officer, and Jordan Glick is the new chief investment officer. Matt Harbus has been named chief strategy officer, with prior experience at Freedom Mortgage overseeing significant loan volumes and technology initiatives, including a partnership between Moder and Palantir Technologies. Kristin McHale-Johnson joins as chief AI officer to work with operating companies on technology strategy and partnerships.