Dark Matter Technologies has tapped its chief revenue officer Sean Dugan to succeed Rich Gagliano as CEO effective April 2025. Gagliano, who launched Dark Matter in 2023 following more than a decade of leadership at its predecessor, Black Knight Origination Technologies, will continue with the company as executive chairman.
Gagliano has spent 14 years leading the company’s mission to in the mortgage origination space, defined by the integration of advanced automation and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) solutions, according to a company press release.
Gagliano recently helped Dark Matter find its footing as an independent company combining the agility of a startup with the pedigree of a mature and experienced provider.
“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve built at Dark Matter, and I am confident the company’s best days are ahead,” Gagliano said in the release. “After years of working with Sean, I have absolute confidence in his leadership and in his team’s readiness to execute on the strategy we’ve developed together. I look forward to supporting Sean and our clients as I transition to executive chairman, knowing that Dark Matter is in the most capable of hands.”
Gagliano’s decision to step down as CEO is part of a broader plan to spend more time with family, though he will remain actively involved as executive chairman to support Dugan, the team and clients during the transition.
Dugan has more than 25 years of mortgage industry expertise, including 14 years working alongside Gagliano at Dark Matter and its predecessor. He is known for his client-focused approach and has played a pivotal role in shaping Dark Matter’s customer-centric culture and product offerings, the release stated. As CEO, he intends to lead the company into its next chapter, focusing on delivering solutions that enhance operational efficiency for lenders.
“Our clients are at the heart of everything we do,” Dugan said. “This transition represents an opportunity to double down on our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our clients to succeed in a challenging market. I’m honored by the trust Rich and Constellation Software’s leadership has placed in me, and I look forward to leading Dark Matter’s talented team in fulfilling our vision for the future of mortgage technology.”
This planned transition reinforces Dark Matter’s commitment to client success by ensuring continuity, stability and uninterrupted progress toward the company’s strategic roadmap and long-term goals.