Press Release FeedGet the RSS feed
Menu

Business Wire

MFA Financial, Inc. Announces CEO Succession Plan and Senior Leadership Appointment

Business Wire

Craig Knutson to Retire as Chief Executive Officer Effective June 30, 2027; Will Remain on the Board of Directors Following Retirement

Bryan Wulfsohn Appointed Chief Executive Officer Effective July 1, 2027; Will Join the Board of Directors Effective January 1, 2027

Andrew Kail to join as Chief Investment Officer Effective January 1, 2027

NEW YORK, October 08, 2026--MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MFA) ("MFA" or the "Company") today announced upcoming changes to its executive leadership positions as part of the Company's long-term succession planning. The leadership changes, which will take effect in 2027, are described below:

Chief Executive Officer

Craig L. Knutson, 67, MFA's Chief Executive Officer, will retire from his position, effective June 30, 2027. To facilitate continuity and provide the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and management with the benefit of Mr. Knutson's long-time institutional knowledge of the Company and its operational strategy, Mr. Knutson is expected to remain on the Board following his retirement and will stand for reelection to the Board at MFA's 2027 annual meeting of stockholders.

Bryan Wulfsohn, MFA's current President and Chief Investment Officer, will become President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2027. Mr. Wulfsohn will also become a member of the Board effective January 1, 2027, increasing the size of the Board to eight directors. Mr. Wulfsohn is a 16-year veteran of MFA with extensive experience managing the selection, oversight and funding of the Company's investment portfolios, and he has served as President since September 2024 and Chief Investment Officer or Co-Chief Investment Officer since January 2019.

Laurie Goodman, MFA's Chair of the Board, said "On behalf of the Board and the entire MFA team, I would like to thank Craig for his contributions to MFA and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. The Board is deeply grateful to Craig for his leadership of MFA since joining the Company in 2008 and in particular during the past nine years as CEO, and we are pleased that we will continue to benefit from his insights as a director following his retirement. We also are thrilled to announce Bryan's appointment as CEO. 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."

Mr. Knutson said, "It has been a privilege working at MFA for the past 18 years and leading the Company for the past nine years. I look forward to continuing to serve as a member of the Board and working with Bryan, my fellow directors and the MFA management team in the coming months to help ensure a smooth transition. I have worked with Bryan for over 20 years, and I will retire knowing that MFA is in good hands with him at the helm and am eager to see the Company thrive in the years ahead under Bryan's leadership."

  1. AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive, Affirms Credit Ratings of BTG Pactual Resseguradora S.A. and BTG Pactual Seguros S.A.MEXICO CITY, October 16, 2026--AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb+" (Good) of BTG Pactual Resseguradora S.A. (BTG Re) (São Paulo, Brazil) and BTG Pactual Seguros S.A. (BTG Segu
  2. SaaSVantageScoreNew VantageScore 4.0 Mortgage Credit Score Simulator API Helps Lenders Say "Yes" to More Mortgage ApplicantsNew VantageScore 4.0 Credit Score Simulator API Provides Actionable Credit Score Improvement Plans New API Simulates and Forecasts Credit Score for All Three Credit Reports: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Integrates Seamlessly into Existing LOS Systems SAN FRANCISCO, October 16, 2026--VantageScore t
  3. AM Best Maintains Under Review With Negative Implications Status for Members of Curi Insurance GroupOLDWICK, N.J., October 16, 2026--AM Best has maintained the under review with negative implications status for the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of "a-" (Excellent) for the members of Curi Insurance Group (Curi) (Raleigh, NC)
  4. AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Positive, Affirms Credit Ratings of Sura Re Ltd.MEXICO CITY, October 16, 2026--AM Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of "bbb" (Good) of Sura Re Ltd. (Sura Re) (Bermuda). The outlook of the FSR
  5. EducationCerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP File Lawsuit Against Cabrillo Unified School District Alleging Years of Sexual Abuse by Former Teacher and CoachSAN JOSE, Calif, October 16, 2026--A civil lawsuit filed by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP in San Mateo County Superior Court alleges that Cabrillo Unified School District (CUSD) failed to protect a student from years of sexual abuse by former teacher and coach Paul Farnsworth, known as "Farnz", despite repeated warning signs and alleged violations of appropriate adult-student boun
  6. HealthcareStarton Therapeutics Inc.Starton Therapeutics to Participate in Spotlight Panel at BioFuture 2026PARAMUS, N.J., October 16, 2026--Starton Therapeutics Inc. ("Starton"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company employing standard-of-care therapies with proprietary delivery technologies, announced today that Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jamie Oliver, Pharm.D., will participate as a panelist at BioFuture