# Wellington J. Denahan

> Wellington J. Denahan co-founded Annaly Capital Management in 1996 and served as its chief investment officer, chief operating officer, chairman and CEO. Her executive career included the 2013 acquisition of CreXus and a transition to executive chairman in 2015. She retired from the chairmanship at the end of 2017 and from Annaly’s board in 2023, after more than 25 years with the company.

- **Role:** Co-founder of Annaly Capital Management; retired from its board in 2023
- **Organizations:** Annaly Capital Management, Nareit (historical mortgage REIT council chair), Federal Reserve Bank of New York (historical Investor Advisory Committee on Financial Markets member), Wildlife Conservation Society (director, 2015–2019)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Finance (as stated in Annaly’s 2023 retirement announcement), Florida State University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Annaly and helped take it public in 1997., Led Annaly as chairman and CEO from November 2012 to September 2015., Oversaw Annaly during its 2013 acquisition of CreXus and expansion of commercial real estate capabilities.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Co-founded Annaly Capital Management with Michael A. J. Farrell.
- **1997** — Annaly completed its $102 million IPO in October and began trading on the NYSE.
- **2000–2012** — Served as Annaly’s chief investment officer.
- **2006–2012** — Served as chief operating officer, beginning in January 2006.
- **2012-10** — Became co-chief executive officer.
- **2012-11** — Appointed chairman and chief executive officer on November 5.
- **2013-05** — Annaly completed its acquisition of CreXus during her CEO tenure.
- **2013** — Annaly’s annual report identified her as chair of Nareit’s mortgage REIT council.
- **2015-09** — Kevin Keyes succeeded her as CEO effective September 30; she continued as chairman and became executive chairman.
- **2015** — Listed on the New York Fed’s Investor Advisory Committee on Financial Markets.
- **2015-10** — Appointed a Wildlife Conservation Society director on October 7.
- **2017-12** — Retired as chairman and executive chairman on December 31, remaining a director.
- **2019-10** — Resigned as a Wildlife Conservation Society director on October 29.
- **2023-05** — Retired from Annaly’s board at the conclusion of the 2023 annual meeting.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Annaly and helped take it public in 1997.
- Led Annaly as chairman and CEO from November 2012 to September 2015.
- Oversaw Annaly during its 2013 acquisition of CreXus and expansion of commercial real estate capabilities.
- Served in investment management, operating leadership and board oversight over more than 25 years.
- Annaly’s 2023 proxy linked her commitment to sustainability and philanthropy to the founding of its Corporate Responsibility Committee in 2017.

## Latest updates

- **2023-05** — Retired from Annaly’s board following the annual meeting, ending her positions as vice chair, Risk Committee chair and Corporate Responsibility Committee member.
- **2023-02** — Annaly announced her planned board retirement on February 22.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/wellington-denahan
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23