Executive Management

Mr. Williams has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President since August 2019. Mr. Williams has also served as Managing Director of Angel Oak Capital since January 2018 and as the Chief Executive Officer of our Manager since August 2019. Mr. Williams has 30 years’ experience as a finance professional holding various corporate leadership roles in banking, investment banking, mortgage banking and the energy sector for both national and international organizations. Prior to becoming our Chief Executive Officer and President, Mr. Williams was the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of New Residential Investment Corp. (NYSE: NRZ) and a Managing Director of FIG LLC, the external manager of New Residential Investment Corp. and an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, from February 2013 until November 2013. Prior to New Residential Investment Corp., Mr. Williams was Vice President at Occidental Petroleum Corporation from April 2009 until December 2012. Mr. Williams previously served as Treasurer of Washington Mutual Inc. from February 2005 until October 2008 and as President of Washington Mutual Inc. from October 2008 until May 2012. Prior to joining Washington Mutual Inc., Mr. Williams was a Senior Vice President with SunTrust Banks, Inc. and served in multiple capacities from January 1985 until January 2005, where he was head of fixed income trading and research and managed a team that handled all treasury capital market functions such as investment portfolio, funding and capital management. Mr. Williams holds a B.S. from Clemson University and an MBA from Furman University. Additionally, he holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Mr. Filson has served as our Chief Financial Officer since June 2018 and as our Treasurer since August 2019 and is responsible for the oversight of our finance and accounting activities. Mr. Filson has also served as Chief Financial Officer, REIT of Angel Oak Capital since April 2018. Mr. Filson has over 15 years of experience in accounting and financial roles. Prior to joining us, from April 2013 to April 2018 Mr. Filson was the Vice President and Real Estate Controller of iStar Inc. (NYSE: STAR) and Safehold Inc. (NYSE: SAFE), formerly Safety, Income and Growth, Inc., both publicly traded REITs. Mr. Filson worked in the financial services assurance practices of Grant Thornton LLP from January 2008 to April 2013 and of KPMG LLP from July 2006 to January 2008. Mr. Filson holds a MAcc and a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Georgia. Mr. Filson is a Certified Public Accountant.

Ms. Black has served as our General Counsel and Secretary since March 2018. Ms. Black has also served as the General Counsel of Angel Oak Capital and Angel Oak Companies since 2014 and is responsible for all legal and compliance affairs. Previously, from 2003 to 2014, Ms. Black served as the Vice President and Associate General Counsel at GE Asset Management. Prior to GE Asset Management, from 2001 to 2003, Ms. Black worked at Dewey Ballantine LLP, where she represented private equity investors and pension funds making equity investments in various operating companies. Ms. Black has extensive experience in a variety of areas relating to the investment management business, including the formation and continued oversight and maintenance of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and private, public and offshore funds, drafting and negotiating investment management and related agreements, and advising on regulatory issues in the United States and foreign jurisdictions. Ms. Black also has experience in the areas of human resources, general corporate matters and mortgage and real estate related matters. Ms. Black holds a B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University and earned a J.D., with Honors, from Emory University’s School of Law graduating cum laude with High Honors.