William S. Gorin was the CEO of MFA Financial from January 2014 until his untimely passing in August 2017. He had a strong background in finance with years of experience in investment banking and management. Gorin stepped up from first...

William S. Gorin was the CEO of MFA Financial from January 2014 until his untimely passing in August 2017. He had a strong background in finance with years of experience in investment banking and management. Gorin stepped up from first being the Chief Financial Officer and then President of the company, which shows a clear progression. During his time at MFA, he focused on driving the company’s performance by aligning executive compensation with the company’s financial success. While he earned a significant salary, a major part of his compensation included performance bonuses based on the company’s return on equity. One interesting aspect of his financial journey is that he had a significant amount of wealth tied up in stock and was actively engaged in the company’s ownership. Gorin had a clear understanding of mortgage-backed securities and the capital markets, key areas for MFA Financial's business. Even after his passing, the stock awards he had earned were a notable part of his legacy, reflecting his dedication to the firm. His educational background includes an MBA from Stanford, showcasing he was well-equipped for the challenges in the finance sector.