Smriti L. Popenoe

Co-Chief Executive Officer and President

Smriti L. Popenoe joined the Board in September 2023. She is the Co-CEO and President of the Company. She previously served as Chief Investment Officer from 2014 through 2024. Her extensive career in finance and capital markets brings a wealth of expertise in risk management, investment leadership, and best practices in portfolio optimization.

Smriti is accountable for the raising, deployment, and management of the Company’s capital. With almost three decades of career success, she served as Chief Risk Officer at PHH Corporation, a leading provider of mortgage banking and fleet management outsourcing services. As Senior Vice President with Wells Fargo (Wachovia Bank at the time), she managed the $100+B investment portfolio and led the team through the financial crisis of 2009. Further reflecting a broad career, she served as Senior Vice President, Investments with Sunset Financial Resources, a startup REIT. She managed an investment portfolio of $400B fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and whole loans while with Freddie Mac during the early years of her career.

Ms. Popenoe received the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1997 and holds three degrees: an MBA from the University of Rochester, a Master’s-level French diploma from the Alliance Française, and a B.S. in Chemistry and Environmental Science from St. Joseph’s College in Bangalore, India. Smriti is committed to building winning teams and mentoring young professionals while pursuing her passion for the environment, personal growth, and lifelong learning.

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