Kind Lending Charts New Course with Leadership Overhaul

IRVINE, Calif. – January 06, 2026 – By Patrick Griffin

Kind Lending, a mortgage lender that has asserted itself as one of the industry's fastest-growing players since its 2020 inception, has announced a significant leadership transition designed to steer its next phase of expansion. In a strategic move that both honors its founding leadership and signals a clear direction for the future, the company has elevated Chief Operating Officer Jenn Folk to the role of President.

She succeeds co-founder Yvonne Ketchum, who will transition from her day-to-day leadership responsibilities into a newly created part-time role as President Emeritus and Executive Advisor. The move is described as a semi-retirement for Ketchum, who has been a central figure at the company for over six years. This carefully orchestrated succession plan aims to ensure operational continuity while sharpening the company's focus on key growth sectors, most notably the burgeoning Non-Qualified Mortgage (Non-QM) market.

A Legacy of Culture and Growth

Yvonne Ketchum’s influence on Kind Lending is deeply woven into its corporate fabric. As a co-founder alongside industry veteran Glenn Stearns, her leadership was instrumental in shaping not just the company's operational infrastructure but its defining cultural ethos. Before helping launch Kind Lending, Ketchum spent 15 years at Stearns Lending, where she worked closely with Stearns and navigated the organization through critical periods of growth. This experience proved foundational, providing the blueprint for building Kind Lending from the ground up.

At Kind, Ketchum is credited with fostering a culture “rooted in trust, accountability, and kindness.” This people-first approach became a hallmark of her tenure, personified by her widely read weekly Friday emails, which blended sharp industry analysis with a characteristic wit and humor that resonated across the organization. These messages became a reflection of the authentic and collaborative environment she championed.

"Yvonne's impact on Kind is immeasurable," said Glenn Stearns, Founder of Kind Lending, in a statement. "She helped build the framework that allows us to grow with intention, while never losing sight of who we are. Her leadership, humor, and heart shaped this company in ways that will be felt for years to come." The company's positive internal environment, often described by employees on platforms like Glassdoor as a "family-like company," is a direct testament to the culture Ketchum helped cultivate.

While stepping back from the daily helm, Ketchum is not stepping away entirely. Her decision to remain as an advisor underscores her commitment to the company's future success. "I am incredibly proud of what we have built together," Ketchum stated. "Kind has always been special because of the people. I am grateful to have been part of it from the very beginning, and I am excited to continue supporting the Non-QM business in this next chapter."

Operational Acumen for the Next Chapter

The appointment of Jenn Folk as President represents a strategic emphasis on operational excellence as Kind Lending prepares to scale its operations further. Folk, who joined the company as Chief Operating Officer, is a seasoned mortgage banking executive with over two decades of experience in creating scalable systems and driving organizational transformation. Her promotion is seen as a natural progression, building upon the robust operational backbone she has already established.

Folk’s career is marked by senior leadership roles at prominent industry firms. Prior to Kind, she was Vice President of Fulfillment Operations at Tri Pointe Connect and Senior Vice President of National Operations at Planet Home Lending. Her career also includes a significant tenure at Stearns Lending, giving her a deep, shared history with Kind's foundational leadership. This background provides her with a unique understanding of the company's DNA and its ambitious goals.

As COO, Folk was tasked with fortifying the company's infrastructure to support rapid expansion in both wholesale and retail channels. Her expertise lies in leveraging analytics, technology, and process innovation to enhance service delivery and efficiency. Her vision, as previously stated, is to "redefine what a modern mortgage company can be" by fostering a culture focused on both performance and purpose. Ketchum herself endorsed Folk's capabilities, noting her leadership was "exactly what Kind Lending needs as we continue to scale and expand."

The Strategic Focus on Non-QM Dominance

Ketchum’s new advisory role, with its specific focus on the Non-QM business, is a clear indicator of where Kind Lending sees a major opportunity for growth. The Non-QM market, once a niche segment, has expanded to represent a significant portion of the mortgage landscape, accounting for an estimated 5% to 10% of total originations in recent years. Projections suggest the market could reach $70 billion in issuance by 2025 as demand continues to rise.

This growth is fueled by a changing workforce, including a surge in self-employed individuals, gig economy workers, and real estate investors who don't fit the rigid criteria of traditional qualified mortgages. These borrowers, often with strong financial profiles but non-traditional income documentation, require the flexible underwriting that Non-QM products provide.

Kind Lending has already established a comprehensive suite of Non-QM offerings to serve this demographic. Its products include Alt Doc loans based on bank statements or P&L statements, as well as Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans for real estate investors who qualify based on a property's income potential rather than personal income. By dedicating the deep expertise of a founder like Ketchum to this segment, and pairing it with Folk’s operational prowess to manage the complexity and risk, Kind is positioning itself to capture a larger share of this high-growth market.

With a clear succession plan, a renewed strategic focus, and a strong cultural foundation, the company is poised to build on its momentum. The transition honors the legacy of a founding leader while simultaneously empowering a new one to execute on an ambitious vision for the future.