EARNEST EXPANDS C-SUITE WITH NEW EXECUTIVE HIRES

Rhea-AI Summary

Earnest, a fintech focused on education finance, has appointed Mike Horowitz as Chief Product Officer. With two decades of product management experience, Horowitz joins COO Jason Williams to enhance Earnest's student lending platform. The company has helped over 180,000 borrowers refinance $16.5 billion in student debt and recently acquired Going Merry to improve financial aid accessibility. In 2021, Earnest led the industry with over $4.4 billion in refinancing originations, aiming to make higher education more affordable and accessible for all.

Positive

• Appointment of Mike Horowitz as Chief Product Officer enhances leadership.
• Earnest has refinanced over $16.5 billion in student loans since 2015.
• Industry leader with $4.4 billion in refinancing originations in 2021.
• Acquisition of Going Merry boosts efforts in education finance accessibility.

Negative

• None.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Earnest, a fintech company dedicated to making higher education accessible and affordable for everyone, today announced the hire of Mike Horowitz as its new Chief Product Officer. Horowitz, who brings twenty years of product management experience to his new position at Earnest, joins returning Earnest employee and Chief Operating Officer, Jason Williams, on the executive team as they work to further develop the company's innovative student lending platform.

"At Earnest, we're focused on developing products that have a meaningful impact on the lives of students and graduates. Jason and Mike are two perfect people to help further that goal," said Earnest CEO David Green. "Jason not only has historical knowledge of the company but also brings valuable experience leading teams for operational success. Likewise, Mike's extensive experience in product development makes him a natural fit as our CPO, and we're thrilled to welcome them both to Earnest's executive team."

Williams, who began his current role in June, returned to Earnest after four years as Chief Customer Officer, at 401(k) fintech Guideline. He has previously worked as Chief of Staff and Head of Business Operations at Earnest.

"I took out student loans for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees, so I know what it's like to balance student debt and a career. I also went through the financial aid process on my own, which made me acutely aware of the challenges that students face when choosing how to pay for college," said Williams. "At Earnest we're tackling both of those problems head on, simplifying the loan process for new students and making it easier for borrowers to refinance and pay down their student loans faster."

Horowitz has held top product roles at car-purchasing fintech Fair.com, customer data platform Bridg, Ticketmaster, and several other startups. He also managed multiple successful products at Google.

"Having college-aged children myself, I know how stressful the financial side of higher education can be. Earnest is reimagining the process by making loan applications and refinancing simple and accessible for students, graduates, and parents," said Horowitz. "I'm excited to join Earnest's fast-growing team of passionate, mission-driven innovators in building a product that helps more borrowers pay down their student debt and achieve financial freedom." 

Earnest has been refinancing student loans since 2015, helping more than 180,000 borrowers refinance more than $16.5 billion in student loan debt and empowering them to pay back their student loans on their own terms. In 2019, the company introduced its private student loan offering with one of the fastest application processes available, providing results in less than two minutes. Today, Earnest leads the industry in student loan refinancing with over $4.4 billion in originations in the first three quarters of 2021. In 2021, Earnest also acquired financial aid and scholarship application platform Going Merry to further its mission to make higher education accessible and affordable to everyone and minimize the debt students need to take on in the first place.

For more information about Earnest, visit www.earnest.com.

About Earnest
Earnest is a fintech lender focused on education finance, whose mission is to make higher education accessible and affordable for everyone. Founded in 2013 on the belief that financially responsible people deserve better options and access to credit, Earnest's lending products empower anyone seeking higher education to reduce the total price tag of their education, supercharge their ability to pay down student debt, and get on the right financial track fast.

Earnest is a subsidiary of Navient (Nasdaq: NAVI). Learn more at earnest.com.

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SOURCE Earnest

FAQ

Who is the new Chief Product Officer of Earnest?

Mike Horowitz has been appointed as the new Chief Product Officer of Earnest.

What is Earnest's mission in education finance?

Earnest aims to make higher education accessible and affordable for everyone.

How much student loan debt has Earnest refinanced?

Earnest has refinanced over $16.5 billion in student loan debt since 2015.

How much did Earnest originate in student loan refinancing in 2021?

Earnest led the industry with over $4.4 billion in refinancing originations during the first three quarters of 2021.

What recent acquisition did Earnest make?

In 2021, Earnest acquired the financial aid and scholarship application platform Going Merry.