MFA Financial names Bryan Wulfsohn CEO effective July 2027

NEW YORK, October 8, 2026. MFA Financial, Inc. announced that Bryan Wulfsohn will succeed Craig Knutson as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2027. The company filed an 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission to report the departure of an officer and the appointment of new leadership as part of its long-term succession plan.

Craig Knutson, 67, will retire from his position as CEO on June 30, 2027. The company stated that Knutson is expected to remain on the Board of Directors following his retirement to provide institutional knowledge and operational strategy guidance. He will stand for reelection to the Board at MFA's 2027 annual meeting of stockholders. Knutson has served as CEO for nine years and has been with the company since 2008.

Bryan Wulfsohn, currently President and Chief Investment Officer, will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2027. He will join the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2027, increasing the board size to eight directors. Wulfsohn has been an employee of MFA for 16 years, serving as President since September 2024 and in the role of Chief Investment Officer or Co-Chief Investment Officer since January 2019.

The company also announced that Andrew P. Kail will join as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, effective January 1, 2027. Kail brings over 25 years of experience in mortgage finance. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and Head of Residential Lending at Starwood Capital Group from 2022 through early 2026. Prior to that role, he was Director of Business Development at Aspen Capital from 2019 to 2022. His earlier career included senior leadership positions at Fortress Investment Group, RBS Securities Inc., and Bear Stearns & Co., Inc.

Laurie Goodman, Chair of the Board, stated that the appointments reflect the Board's confidence in Wulfsohn's leadership and strategic vision. She noted that the transition is the result of a succession planning process designed to ensure continuity. Goodman thanked Knutson for his leadership since joining the company in 2008 and expressed gratitude for his continued involvement as a director.

Knutson described his 18-year tenure at MFA as a privilege and expressed confidence in Wulfsohn's ability to lead the company. He noted that he has worked with Wulfsohn for over 20 years and looks forward to assisting with the transition in the coming months.

Wulfsohn accepted the appointment, citing his appreciation for the Board's confidence and Knutson's mentorship. He stated his intention to deliver strong returns for stockholders while leading the team.

MFA Financial is an internally managed real estate investment trust focused on residential mortgage loans and related securities. Its subsidiary Lima One Capital handles business purpose loans for investors. Since its initial public offering in 1998, the firm has paid out more than $5 billion in dividends.

The press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the anticipated timing and effects of the leadership transition. These statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections. MFA is not obligated to update these statements except as required by law.