{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"164849","rtpr_id":"nBw6SPcx0a-20261008","ticker":"MFA","exchange":"NYSE","all_tickers":["MFA"],"title":"MFA Financial, Inc. Announces CEO Succession Plan and Senior Leadership Appointment","author":"Business Wire","published_at":"2026-10-08T20:15:00.143Z","article_body":"MFA Financial, Inc. Announces CEO Succession Plan and Senior Leadership\nAppointment\n\nCraig Knutson to Retire as Chief Executive Officer Effective June 30, 2027;\nWill Remain on the Board of Directors Following Retirement\n\nBryan Wulfsohn Appointed Chief Executive Officer Effective July 1, 2027; Will\nJoin the Board of Directors Effective January 1, 2027\n\nAndrew Kail to join as Chief Investment Officer Effective January 1, 2027\n\nMFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MFA) (“MFA” or the “Company”) today\nannounced upcoming changes to its executive leadership positions as part of\nthe Company’s long-term succession planning. The leadership changes, which\nwill take effect in 2027, are described below:\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nCraig L. Knutson, 67, MFA’s Chief Executive Officer, will retire from his\nposition, effective June 30, 2027. To facilitate continuity and provide the\nCompany’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and management with the\nbenefit of Mr. Knutson’s long-time institutional knowledge of the Company\nand its operational strategy, Mr. Knutson is expected to remain on the Board\nfollowing his retirement and will stand for reelection to the Board at MFA’s\n2027 annual meeting of stockholders.\n\nBryan Wulfsohn, MFA’s current President and Chief Investment Officer, will\nbecome President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2027. Mr.\nWulfsohn will also become a member of the Board effective January 1, 2027,\nincreasing the size of the Board to eight directors. Mr. Wulfsohn is a 16-year\nveteran of MFA with extensive experience managing the selection, oversight and\nfunding of the Company’s investment portfolios, and he has served as\nPresident since September 2024 and Chief Investment Officer or Co-Chief\nInvestment Officer since January 2019.\n\nLaurie Goodman, MFA’s Chair of the Board, said “On behalf of the Board and\nthe entire MFA team, I would like to thank Craig for his contributions to MFA\nand congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. The Board is deeply grateful\nto Craig for his leadership of MFA since joining the Company in 2008 and in\nparticular during the past nine years as CEO, and we are pleased that we will\ncontinue to benefit from his insights as a director following his retirement.\nWe also are thrilled to announce Bryan’s appointment as CEO. His appointment\nis the culmination of a robust succession planning process and reflects the\nBoard’s confidence in his leadership, intellect and strategic vision for the\nCompany.”\n\nMr. Knutson said, “It has been a privilege working at MFA for the past 18\nyears and leading the Company for the past nine years. I look forward to\ncontinuing to serve as a member of the Board and working with Bryan, my fellow\ndirectors and the MFA management team in the coming months to help ensure a\nsmooth transition. I have worked with Bryan for over 20 years, and I will\nretire knowing that MFA is in good hands with him at the helm and am eager to\nsee the Company thrive in the years ahead under Bryan’s leadership.”\n\nMr. Wulfsohn commented, “I’m honored to be selected as the next CEO of\nMFA, and I appreciate the Board’s confidence in me for this role. I am\ngrateful to Craig for his mentorship and partnership over the years, and I\nlook forward to leading a team whose expertise and commitment I know\nfirsthand. I’m excited for the future of the business and the opportunity to\ndeliver strong returns for our stockholders.”\n\nChief Investment Officer\n\nMFA also announced that Andrew P. Kail will join the Company as Senior Vice\nPresident and Chief Investment Officer, effective January 1, 2027. Mr. Kail, a\nveteran of the mortgage finance industry for over 25 years, served most\nrecently as Managing Director, Head of Residential Lending, at Starwood\nCapital Group, a position he held from 2022 through earlier this year. Prior\nthereto, he was Director of Business Development at Aspen Capital from 2019 to\n2022. Earlier in his career Mr. Kail also held senior leadership positions in\nmortgage finance with Fortress Investment Group, RBS Securities Inc. and Bear\nStearns & Co., Inc.\n\nMr. Wulfsohn said, “Craig and I have known Andrew for over 15 years, and he\nbrings a wealth of skills, experiences and relationships to MFA from his\ndecades working in the mortgage finance industry on both the sell side and the\nbuy side, including in asset management and operational roles. We are excited\nto welcome him to MFA.”\n\nAbout MFA Financial, Inc.\n\nMFA Financial, Inc. is a leading specialty finance company that invests in\nresidential mortgage loans, residential mortgage-backed securities and other\nreal estate assets. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Lima One Capital, MFA\nalso originates and services business purpose loans for real estate investors.\nMFA has distributed over $5 billion in dividends to stockholders since its\ninitial public offering in 1998. MFA is an internally managed, publicly traded\nreal estate investment trust.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains, or may be deemed to contain, “forward-looking\nstatements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform\nAct of 1995, including with respect to the anticipated timing and effects of\nthe leadership transition and appointments described herein. These\nforward-looking statements are based on beliefs, assumptions and expectations\nof MFA’s future performance, taking into account information currently\navailable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these\nforward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are\nmade. These types of statements are subject to various known and unknown\nrisks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those described\nin MFA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025,\nand other reports that it may file from time to time with the Securities and\nExchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause\nMFA’s actual results to differ materially from those projected, expressed or\nimplied in any forward-looking statements it makes. New risks and\nuncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible to predict those events\nor how they may affect MFA. Except as required by law, MFA is not obligated\nto, and does not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements,\nwhether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261006008378/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261006008378/en/)\n\nInvestor Contact: \n\nMFA Investor Relations \n\n212-207-6488 \n\nwww.mfafinancial.com\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfafinancial.com&esheet=54617164&newsitemid=20261006008378&lan=en-US&anchor=www.mfafinancial.com&index=1&md5=46eab4228af03fc85b2d6a3aab461bd0)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nBw6SPcx0a-20261008","title":"MFA Financial, Inc. Announces CEO Succession Plan and Senior Leadership Appointment","author":"Business Wire","ticker":"MFA","created":"2026-10-08T20:15:00.143Z","tickers":["MFA"],"exchange":"NYSE","article_body":"MFA Financial, Inc. Announces CEO Succession Plan and Senior Leadership\nAppointment\n\nCraig Knutson to Retire as Chief Executive Officer Effective June 30, 2027;\nWill Remain on the Board of Directors Following Retirement\n\nBryan Wulfsohn Appointed Chief Executive Officer Effective July 1, 2027; Will\nJoin the Board of Directors Effective January 1, 2027\n\nAndrew Kail to join as Chief Investment Officer Effective January 1, 2027\n\nMFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MFA) (“MFA” or the “Company”) today\nannounced upcoming changes to its executive leadership positions as part of\nthe Company’s long-term succession planning. The leadership changes, which\nwill take effect in 2027, are described below:\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nCraig L. Knutson, 67, MFA’s Chief Executive Officer, will retire from his\nposition, effective June 30, 2027. To facilitate continuity and provide the\nCompany’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and management with the\nbenefit of Mr. Knutson’s long-time institutional knowledge of the Company\nand its operational strategy, Mr. Knutson is expected to remain on the Board\nfollowing his retirement and will stand for reelection to the Board at MFA’s\n2027 annual meeting of stockholders.\n\nBryan Wulfsohn, MFA’s current President and Chief Investment Officer, will\nbecome President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2027. Mr.\nWulfsohn will also become a member of the Board effective January 1, 2027,\nincreasing the size of the Board to eight directors. Mr. Wulfsohn is a 16-year\nveteran of MFA with extensive experience managing the selection, oversight and\nfunding of the Company’s investment portfolios, and he has served as\nPresident since September 2024 and Chief Investment Officer or Co-Chief\nInvestment Officer since January 2019.\n\nLaurie Goodman, MFA’s Chair of the Board, said “On behalf of the Board and\nthe entire MFA team, I would like to thank Craig for his contributions to MFA\nand congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. The Board is deeply grateful\nto Craig for his leadership of MFA since joining the Company in 2008 and in\nparticular during the past nine years as CEO, and we are pleased that we will\ncontinue to benefit from his insights as a director following his retirement.\nWe also are thrilled to announce Bryan’s appointment as CEO. His appointment\nis the culmination of a robust succession planning process and reflects the\nBoard’s confidence in his leadership, intellect and strategic vision for the\nCompany.”\n\nMr. Knutson said, “It has been a privilege working at MFA for the past 18\nyears and leading the Company for the past nine years. I look forward to\ncontinuing to serve as a member of the Board and working with Bryan, my fellow\ndirectors and the MFA management team in the coming months to help ensure a\nsmooth transition. I have worked with Bryan for over 20 years, and I will\nretire knowing that MFA is in good hands with him at the helm and am eager to\nsee the Company thrive in the years ahead under Bryan’s leadership.”\n\nMr. Wulfsohn commented, “I’m honored to be selected as the next CEO of\nMFA, and I appreciate the Board’s confidence in me for this role. I am\ngrateful to Craig for his mentorship and partnership over the years, and I\nlook forward to leading a team whose expertise and commitment I know\nfirsthand. I’m excited for the future of the business and the opportunity to\ndeliver strong returns for our stockholders.”\n\nChief Investment Officer\n\nMFA also announced that Andrew P. Kail will join the Company as Senior Vice\nPresident and Chief Investment Officer, effective January 1, 2027. Mr. Kail, a\nveteran of the mortgage finance industry for over 25 years, served most\nrecently as Managing Director, Head of Residential Lending, at Starwood\nCapital Group, a position he held from 2022 through earlier this year. Prior\nthereto, he was Director of Business Development at Aspen Capital from 2019 to\n2022. Earlier in his career Mr. Kail also held senior leadership positions in\nmortgage finance with Fortress Investment Group, RBS Securities Inc. and Bear\nStearns & Co., Inc.\n\nMr. Wulfsohn said, “Craig and I have known Andrew for over 15 years, and he\nbrings a wealth of skills, experiences and relationships to MFA from his\ndecades working in the mortgage finance industry on both the sell side and the\nbuy side, including in asset management and operational roles. We are excited\nto welcome him to MFA.”\n\nAbout MFA Financial, Inc.\n\nMFA Financial, Inc. is a leading specialty finance company that invests in\nresidential mortgage loans, residential mortgage-backed securities and other\nreal estate assets. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Lima One Capital, MFA\nalso originates and services business purpose loans for real estate investors.\nMFA has distributed over $5 billion in dividends to stockholders since its\ninitial public offering in 1998. MFA is an internally managed, publicly traded\nreal estate investment trust.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains, or may be deemed to contain, “forward-looking\nstatements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform\nAct of 1995, including with respect to the anticipated timing and effects of\nthe leadership transition and appointments described herein. These\nforward-looking statements are based on beliefs, assumptions and expectations\nof MFA’s future performance, taking into account information currently\navailable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these\nforward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are\nmade. These types of statements are subject to various known and unknown\nrisks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those described\nin MFA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025,\nand other reports that it may file from time to time with the Securities and\nExchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause\nMFA’s actual results to differ materially from those projected, expressed or\nimplied in any forward-looking statements it makes. New risks and\nuncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible to predict those events\nor how they may affect MFA. Except as required by law, MFA is not obligated\nto, and does not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements,\nwhether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261006008378/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261006008378/en/)\n\nInvestor Contact: \n\nMFA Investor Relations \n\n212-207-6488 \n\nwww.mfafinancial.com\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfafinancial.com&esheet=54617164&newsitemid=20261006008378&lan=en-US&anchor=www.mfafinancial.com&index=1&md5=46eab4228af03fc85b2d6a3aab461bd0)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-08T20:15:00.190858265Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791490500190},"received_at":"2026-10-08T20:15:00.242Z","source_url":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261006008378/en/"},"analysis":{"id":"153267","press_release_id":"164849","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Mortgage REITs","sector":"Real Estate"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"executive_change","narrative":"MFA Financial announced a long-planned CEO succession: Craig Knutson, 67, will retire effective June 30, 2027, and remain on the Board.\n\nBryan Wulfsohn, MFA's 16-year veteran President and CIO, becomes CEO effective July 1, 2027, and joins the Board January 1, 2027, expanding it to eight directors.\n\nAndrew Kail, formerly Head of Residential Lending at Starwood Capital Group, joins as Chief Investment Officer effective January 1, 2027.\n\nThe nine-month transition and internal promotion signal continuity rather than disruption for the residential mortgage REIT.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Orderly insider succession at MFA -- Wulfsohn promoted to CEO with a nine-month handoff and an external CIO hire from Starwood."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"board_size_after_change":8,"successor_ceo_effective":"July 1, 2027","ceo_retirement_effective":"June 30, 2027","cio_appointment_effective":"January 1, 2027","dividends_distributed_since_ipo":"$5 billion"}},"quotedText":"His appointment is the culmination of a robust succession planning process and reflects the Board's confidence in his leadership, intellect and strategic vision for the Company.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Craig Knutson","role":"retiring CEO; will remain on Board"},{"name":"Bryan Wulfsohn","role":"incoming CEO (currently President & CIO)"},{"name":"Andrew Kail","role":"incoming Chief Investment Officer"},{"name":"Laurie Goodman","role":"Chair of the Board"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"MFA Financial, Inc.","ticker":"MFA","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Starwood Capital Group","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Aspen Capital","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Fortress Investment Group","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"RBS Securities Inc.","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Bear Stearns & Co., Inc.","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Lima One Capital","relationship":"wholly owned subsidiary"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$5 billion","context":"dividends distributed to stockholders since 1998 IPO"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":3,"reasoning":"CEO retirement announced with a clear internal successor (Bryan Wulfsohn) and a nine-month transition timeline ending June 30, 2027, plus a new CIO hire. Well-planned succession reduces disruption risk, but CEO transition is still a material leadership event."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"MFA"},"globalImportance":28,"audienceRelevance":25,"eventTypeSecondary":["board_change"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap REIT","eventGravity":"planned CEO succession with named internal successor","householdBrandBoost":false,"retailFavoriteBoost":false}},"event_type":"executive_change","event_type_secondary":["board_change"],"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":3,"narrative":"MFA Financial announced a long-planned CEO succession: Craig Knutson, 67, will retire effective June 30, 2027, and remain on the Board.\n\nBryan Wulfsohn, MFA's 16-year veteran President and CIO, becomes CEO effective July 1, 2027, and joins the Board January 1, 2027, expanding it to eight directors.\n\nAndrew Kail, formerly Head of Residential Lending at Starwood Capital Group, joins as Chief Investment Officer effective January 1, 2027.\n\nThe nine-month transition and internal promotion signal continuity rather than disruption for the residential mortgage REIT.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"board_size_after_change":8,"successor_ceo_effective":"July 1, 2027","ceo_retirement_effective":"June 30, 2027","cio_appointment_effective":"January 1, 2027","dividends_distributed_since_ipo":"$5 billion"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Craig Knutson","role":"retiring CEO; will remain on Board"},{"name":"Bryan Wulfsohn","role":"incoming CEO (currently President & CIO)"},{"name":"Andrew Kail","role":"incoming Chief Investment Officer"},{"name":"Laurie Goodman","role":"Chair of the Board"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"MFA Financial, Inc.","ticker":"MFA","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Starwood Capital Group","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Aspen Capital","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Fortress Investment Group","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"RBS Securities Inc.","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Bear Stearns & Co., Inc.","relationship":"new CIO's prior employer"},{"name":"Lima One Capital","relationship":"wholly owned subsidiary"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$5 billion","context":"dividends distributed to stockholders since 1998 IPO"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-08T20:15:06.546Z","global_importance":28,"audience_relevance":25,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap REIT","eventGravity":"planned CEO succession with named internal successor","householdBrandBoost":false,"retailFavoriteBoost":false}},"durationMs":6263,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}