Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corp.’s (WMC) board of directors has appointed Bonnie Wongtrakool CEO and Lisa Meyer president. Jennifer Murphy has resigned from her positions as president, CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors to pursue a new venture. The personnel changes are all effective Oct. 1.
Wongtrakool will also be appointed to the board. Meyer will continue to serve as chief financial officer. Both will work closely with Murphy, who will remain with the company as a senior advisor through Dec. 31, to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Jennifer for her years of service and many contributions to the company and wish her the best in her new venture,” says James W. Hirschmann, chairman of the board.
Wongtrakool joined WMC in 2003 and has over 22 years of investment industry experience. She will continue to serve in her current roles as global head of ESG Investments and portfolio manager of Western Asset Management Company LLC, the company’s manager. She is also a member of Western Asset’s US Broad Strategy and Global Product Development Committees, and chairs Western Asset’s ESG Strategic Steering Committee. Previously, Wongtrakool was a member of Western Asset’s Mortgage and Consumer Credit team for 14 years, first as a research analyst and then as a portfolio manager managing Western Asset’s dedicated mortgage funds. She has broad experience across the financial services industry, having also worked in strategy consulting at Mercer Management Consulting, private equity at Orion Partners, and investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities.
Meyer has served as CFO and treasurer of the company since 2016. She has over 23 years of financial experience. Prior to working in this capacity with the company, Meyer was interim chief financial officer (beginning in November 2015). From 2011 to November 2015, she was a managing director of FTI Consulting Inc. in the real estate solutions practice.