MFA has elected Jody Gunderson, Managing Principal of AB CarVal, as its new Board Chair and also named new members of its Board of Directors for the 2025 fiscal year, including execs from alternative asset management firms and service providers.
Gunderson assumes his new 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 organisation, 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, with the legal challenge against the Private Fund Advisers Rule proving successful.
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.
