Residential lender Sprout Mortgage announced Gregory Walker has joined the company as chief compliance officer and general counsel, reporting directly to Michael Strauss, president.

Walker takes over the position from Shannon Leight, who moves to the newly created position of chief compliance officer and general counsel for Sprout Lending. Both moves are effective immediately, and both executives are based at Sprout’s East Meadow, N.Y., headquarters.

Walker brings to Sprout more than three decades of legal experience in mortgage financing and securitization. He most recently served as special counsel at Impac Mortgage Company and previously was chief compliance officer and general counsel at Towne Mortgage Company.