Fannie Mae names new chief human resources officer

Government-sponsored enterprise Fannie Mae announced the appointment of financial-services hiring veteran Katie Jones as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. She steps into the role on August 1.

As CHRO and a member of Fannie Mae’s management committee, Jones will help lead all aspects of hiring and retention to deliver a talent strategy supporting the company’s mission and priorities. Jones will also work with groups and staff across the Washington-based GSE, including its office of minority and women inclusion, to promote diversity among its leadership and workplace. 

Jones comes to Fannie Mae with an established background in financial services, most recently serving as senior vice president and chief human resources officer at PRA Group, a global debt-collection services agency. Previously, she also held executive positions in human resources at SunTrust Bank, AIG and Crestar Bank.

“Katie is exceptionally well positioned to cultivate Fannie Mae as a destination for top talent and a great place to work,” Fannie Mae President and Interim CEO David Benson said in a press release. “Katie will play a critical role in ensuring we continue to attract, develop, and support our people and positively impact renters and homeowners.”

She is the third woman to join the ranks of Fannie Mae’s chief officer roster in the past 12 months. In late 2021, the company promoted Chryssa Halley to chief financial officer, and earlier this year, named Sharifa Anderson its first chief diversity and inclusion officer. 

In the first quarter, Fannie Mae reported $4.4 billion in profit. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees it and fellow GSE, Freddie Mac, has faced ongoing pressure from some circles to release both from government conservatorship. Fannie Mae is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings on July 29.