SmartRent Inc., a leading smart property technology provider for the rental housing industry, has appointed Frank Martell as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Martell, who joined SmartRent’s Board in June 2024 and served on its Audit and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees, now steps into executive leadership at a pivotal time in the company's growth.

Martell brings more than 30 years of executive experience in technology, finance, and real estate, with a reputation for transforming companies through data-driven innovation and a digital-first mindset. Known for guiding companies through operational transformation and scaling efforts, Martell is expected to lead SmartRent into its next phase as a customer-centric, execution-driven organization, accelerating platform adoption and delivering measurable value to customers and shareholders.

Prior to SmartRent, Martell served as President and CEO of loanDepot, Inc., where he led the company through strategic restructuring amid a residential market downturn. Before that, he was CEO of CoreLogic, where he drove significant growth, global expansion, and digitization, ultimately increasing the company's market capitalization.

At SmartRent, Martell will focus on enhancing the performance of property portfolios, improving operational efficiency, and increasing satisfaction among residents and on-site teams. His background is expected to reinforce SmartRent’s hardware-enabled SaaS strategy, positioning it for increased adoption and performance in a rapidly evolving PropTech landscape.

SmartRent Chairman John Dorman praised Martell for his “rare combination of strategic insight, operational discipline, and innovative thinking,” noting his seamless transition into the CEO role due to his prior board involvement.

Martell himself emphasized SmartRent’s strengths in purpose-built solutions and strong industry relationships, calling the company “a category leader in smart property technology” with enormous potential to redefine how tech is applied in real estate operations. He also pointed to the company’s investments in platform improvements and customer success as critical drivers of its future.

Martell is a three-time HousingWire Vanguard Award winner and has appeared on Inman’s “Power Players” list from 2023 to 2025, as well as its Best of Finance list in 2023 and 2024. He serves on several boards, including Compass Inc., Operation HOPE, and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and has previously held leadership roles with the Mortgage Bankers Association and Bank of the West.