# Rich Gagliano

> Richard (Rich) Gagliano is a mortgage technology executive and the founding CEO of Dark Matter Technologies, which launched in September 2023 from Black Knight Origination Technologies under Constellation Software’s Perseus Operating Group. His financial-services career includes Aurora Bank and leadership of Black Knight’s origination technology business. Sean Dugan succeeded him as CEO in April 2025; Gagliano later publicly expressed interest in advisory, board, consulting and leadership opportunities.

- **Role:** Mortgage technology executive
- **Organizations:** Dark Matter Technologies, Black Knight Origination Technologies, Aurora Bank, Bank of America, Nexstar Financial Corporation, Citi, Mercantile Bank
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Southeast Missouri State University, MBA in finance, Saint Louis University
- **Known for:** Led Dark Matter’s September 2023 launch with more than 1,300 employees., HousingWire Vanguard award, 2020., Inman Power Player, 2023, listed on his public LinkedIn profile.

## Career timeline

- **Before Black Knight** — Senior vice president of direct lending and chief administrative officer at Aurora Bank.
- **2018** — AIVA development began during his leadership at Black Knight’s origination business.
- **2020** — Received a HousingWire Vanguard award.
- **2023-09** — Led the launch of Dark Matter Technologies as founding CEO.
- **2024-04** — Recognized among Key Executives’ top 25 Jacksonville CEOs.
- **2024-06** — Received Inman’s Best of Finance award.
- **2025-04** — Sean Dugan succeeded him as CEO; the announced transition assigned Gagliano the executive chairman role.
- **2026-04** — Publicly discussed his approaching non-compete expiration and interest in new advisory or leadership opportunities.

## Achievements

- Led Dark Matter’s September 2023 launch with more than 1,300 employees.
- HousingWire Vanguard award, 2020.
- Inman Power Player, 2023, listed on his public LinkedIn profile.
- Key Executives top 25 Jacksonville CEOs, 2024.
- Inman Best of Finance award, 2024.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — In a public LinkedIn post, Gagliano said his non-compete period was approaching its end and invited conversations about advisory, consulting, board and leadership opportunities; he attributed his CEO departure to disagreement over strategic direction.
- **2025-04** — Sean Dugan succeeded him as CEO of Dark Matter, following the transition announced in November 2024.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-gagliano-a0b1007/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rich-gagliano
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23