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Jody Gunderson, Managing Principal of AB CarVal was elected Board Chair by the MFA Board of Directors. Gunderson assumes the role from Natalie Birrell, President and Partner of Anchorage Capital Group, who oversaw the transformation of MFA into a more proactive association. Gunderson, who previously served as a Board member from 2020 - 2024, will serve a two-year term as MFA Board Chair. David Zirin, Chief Operating Officer of Pentwater Capital Management, will continue in his role as Vice Chair.

Under Birrell's leadership, MFA increased membership by 25% and expanded internationally-opening new offices in Brussels and London. Additionally for the first time as an organization, MFA, along with other trade associations, initiated legal challenges against the SEC for acting outside its statutory authority and violating the Administrative Procedure Act when instituting rulemaking. MFA's legal challenge successfully vacated the Private Fund Advisers Rule. Additionally, MFA enhanced its conference platform, attracting record attendance at MFA conferences. MFA also rebranded to better reflect the diverse strategies of its membership and the evolving role in the industry.

"The alternative asset management industry is forever grateful to Natalie Birrell for her many contributions and partnership as Board Chair during a period of significant organizational transformation. Under her leadership, MFA expanded its global presence, strengthened its relationships with policymakers, and enhanced its value to members. We also thank the outgoing board members for their support and service," said Bryan Corbett, MFA President and CEO.

"MFA is excited to welcome Jody Gunderson as our new Board Chair. Jody's extensive experience as a leader in the alternative asset management industry will enable MFA to continue delivering value for our members. She and the other members of the Board will be crucial in MFA advancing the interests of alternative asset managers amid unprecedented global regulatory scrutiny," Corbett concluded.

"I'm honored to serve as MFA Board Chair at this pivotal time for our industry," said Jody Gunderson, Chair of the MFA Board of Directors. "Building on the strong foundation established under Natalie's leadership, I look forward to working with our Board to navigate the industry's evolving landscape. Our collective expertise and commitment will be critical in ensuring that the alternative asset management industry continues to deliver value for institutional investors, including pensions, foundations, and endowments."

New members of the MFA Board include:

Elected Directors:

Shawn Fagan, Chief Legal Officer, Citadel

Heather Harris, Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer, HBK Capital Management

Kristy Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer, Whale Rock Capital Management

Kris Mastronardi, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Global Head of Strategy, King Street Capital Management

Jamie Raboy, Partner & Chief Operating Officer, Marathon Asset Management

Rose Shabet, Chief Operating Officer, Viking Global Investors

Matt Siclari, General Counsel, Balyasny Asset Management

Kerry Tyler, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, Lone Pine Capital

Nathan Urquhart, President, Coatue Management

Appointed Directors:

Alan Flanagan, Global Head of Client Coverage, Asset Servicing, BNY

Phil Han, Americas Co-Head of Prime Brokerage Sales and Global Head of the Systematic Client Franchise, Goldman Sachs

Natalie Horton, Managing Director, Global Head of Financing, UBS

Barry Knee, Assurance Partner, PwC

Eamon McCooey, Managing Director, Head of Equity Finance & FCM Equities, Wells Fargo

Penny Novick, Global Co-Head of Prime Brokerage, Morgan Stanley

Lance Zinman, Partner & Global Chair, Financial Markets and Funds Department, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Fifteen Board members concluded their terms in September 2024. Their service helped MFA become a more proactive and dynamic organization. Their leadership and contributions laid a strong foundation for continued impact.

Outgoing board members:

Natalie Birrell, President & Partner, Anchorage Capital Group

Julia Dailey, Chief Operating Officer, Holocene Advisors

Brian Daly, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Bruce Darringer, Advisor, King Street Capital Management

Eric Epstein, Vice Chairman, Davidson Kempner Capital Management

Peter Greene, Co-Head of the Investment Management Group, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

Chris Hayward, President, GoldenTree Asset Management

Natalie Deak Jaros, Partner, Financial Services, Ernest & Young LLP

Mike Kelleher, Managing Director, Americas Head of Equity Finance, J.P. Morgan

David Lohuis, Managing Director & Chairman of Global Financing, Barclays Investment Bank

Anthony Paquette, Chief Financial Officer, Point72

Ted Post, Co-Head of Prime Brokerage, Head of Prime Sales Americas, BNP Paribas

Shailini Rao, Advisory Board Member, Diameter Capital Partners

Gil Raviv, General Counsel, Millennium Management

Carl Stewart, Vice Chairman, HSBC Bank

Board terms started on October 1, 2024.