Since becoming chief product officer of Optimal Blue in late 2024, Erin Wester has transformed how the mortgage industry’s leading capital markets platform defines and delivers product innovation. Wester has brought transparency to the company’s roadmap, unified product lines under a clear strategy, and overseen the launch of breakthrough AI tools like Originator Assistant and Ask Obi. With a leadership style blending disciplined execution and team empowerment, Wester is setting a new standard for leadership in mortgage fintech.
Joining Optimal Blue in 2017 as a senior product manager, Wester has steadily risen through increasing responsibilities, serving as director of data and integrations and VP of product management, before assuming her current role. As chief product officer, she oversees product strategy across pricing, hedging, and compliance, managing departments including data, integrations, and user experience.
Over the past year, Wester championed two initiatives that have significantly impacted the organization and the industry. She introduced Optimal Blue’s first public four-quarter roadmap, establishing a new level of transparency and focusing teams on delivering value punctually. Additionally, she played a key role in launching Optimal Blue’s inaugural client summit, unveiling seven new capabilities to address real-world lending challenges. Her passion for innovation ensures lenders have products that can adapt to change, scale efficiently, and optimize performance.
Beyond her professional achievements, Wester is committed to giving back, actively supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Holy Angels, a nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities. Her contributions extend beyond products to mentoring future product managers and fostering a positive organizational culture.
As chief product officer, Wester has restructured how Optimal Blue executes its innovation agenda. By introducing a standardized operating model and aligning six distinct teams, she ensures accountability and strategic alignment across the company. Her leadership was evident at Optimal Blue’s February 2025 client summit, where her team introduced seven new capabilities, including Originator Assistant and Ask Obi, which enhance client competitiveness and pricing performance.
Wester’s ability to bring structure to ambiguity facilitates innovation that maintains Optimal Blue’s industry leadership, powering 35% of all mortgages locked nationwide and 40% of mortgages hedged annually, totaling over $1.1 trillion in loan transactions. Her proficiency in executing strategic initiatives enables Optimal Blue to deliver impactful innovation rapidly and sustainably.
What is one habit you swear by?
Reading. I indulge in fiction as a way to reset, clear my head, and get a brief escape from the day-to-day. It’s a small but powerful way to maintain mental clarity and a habit I make time for, no matter how busy things get.
Name:
Erin Wester
Title:
Chief Product Officer
Company Name:
Optimal Blue
