Guardian Mortgage President and CEO Marcia Phillips Retires, Russell Anderson to Take Helm

Marcia Phillips, CEO and President of Guardian Mortgage, with Candy Evans and Gayle Haley at the company’s 50th birthday celebration. Phillips recently retired from her position at Guardian. (Photo: Guardian Mortgage)

Since 1988, Marcia F. Phillips has been at the helm of Guardian Mortgage Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Strategic Growth Bancorp Incorporated. But it’s an end of an era as Phillips has retired from those positions and will become Vice Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors.

“Marcie Phillips, along with Cari McCue, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, and Marcus McCue, Executive Vice President of Business Development, have been instrumental in developing one of the strongest corporate cultures in the rapidly changing mortgage origination and servicing industry,” said William D. Sanders, chairman of the Guardian Mortgage Board of Directors in a news release. “Every Guardian Mortgage colleague knows that providing service to the Company’s clients before, during and after the mortgage origination process is their most important responsibility. Marcie’s day-to-day involvement will be missed, but we will have her advice and counsel on an ongoing basis as Vice Chairman of the Board.”

Russell Anderson

Russell Anderson will fill Phillips’ shoes as the new president and CEO of Guardian. Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the mortgage industry, has extensive experience in home finance and mortgage companies, and will use that acumen to push Guardian forward as a national player in the industry.

“In a short time, I have developed a genuine respect for the entire Guardian Mortgage team, for Marcie Phillips, and the Company’s strong business culture,” Anderson said. “Guardian Mortgage celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year; I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Guardian Mortgage into its second half century.”With a solid leadership team in place, Phillips looks forward to her new role.

“I have been honored to be part of Guardian Mortgage for more than 39 years” Phillips said. “We have built a company that has integrity at the center of everything we do, and I am confident that Russ, Cari, and Marcus will continue that philosophy. As Vice Chairman, I look forward to watching the Company intelligently grow into a national enterprise and offering my thoughts, advice, and guidance as needed.”