LendingTree, Inc. announced the promotion of Ian Smith,43, to Chief Operating Officer. Scott Peyree previously served as Chief Operating Officer before he was appointed Chief Executive Officer following the passing of founder Doug Lebda. Laura Nelson will step into the Head of Insurance role following Smith's transition.

The leadership appointments reflect LendingTree's continued focus on disciplined execution, operational scale, and long-term growth. As Chief Operating Officer, Smith will oversee day-to-day operations across LendingTree, bringing the operating rigor and discipline he established within the company's insurance business to lending and the broader organization. Nelson will lead LendingTree's insurance marketplace, building on its momentum and continuing to drive performance, innovation, and partner success.

Smith most recently served as Senior Vice President of Insurance at LendingTree, where he led the company's insurance business, driving strategy, operations and growth across its insurance marketplace. He joined QuoteWizard in 2005 and helped transform the business from a fast-growing startup into one of the leading online insurance comparison platforms in the U.S. Following LendingTree's acquisition of QuoteWizard, Smith played a critical role in integrating the business into LendingTree's broader financial ecosystem and advancing the company's position in the insurtech space. Nelson has served as Senior Vice President of Sales, where she led revenue growth initiatives and built high-performing sales teams across the company.

As Head of Insurance, she will be responsible for the overall strategy, execution and performance of LendingTree's insurance marketplace, continuing to strengthen relationships with carriers and deliver value to consumers.