Wellington J. Denahan-Norris is a key figure in finance, serving as the co-founder and former CEO of Annaly Capital Management, a major player in the mortgage finance sector since 1996. Born on September 22, 1964, she has been with the...

Wellington J. Denahan-Norris is a key figure in finance, serving as the co-founder and former CEO of Annaly Capital Management, a major player in the mortgage finance sector since 1996. Born on September 22, 1964, she has been with the company through significant changes, including its transition to an internally managed structure. Denahan has had a long career in leadership roles, including positions as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, leading Annaly through various market cycles. In 2022, her total compensation reached over $14 million, showcasing her impact on the company's success. She also drew attention for her substantial insider trading activity, with transactions exceeding $18 million at times. One of her notable achievements was leading Annaly to a successful diversification strategy. After years at the helm, Wellington announced her retirement effective February 2023, leaving a legacy of strong performance metrics and a commitment to corporate governance.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Annaly Capital Management CEOs

A

Wellington J. Denahan-Norris

Founder and Ex-CEO of Annaly Capital Management

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Real Estate

Born

September 22, 1964 - 60 years ago

CEO of Annaly Capital Management for

9 years 3 months (Nov 2012 - Feb 2022)

Previous Experience

Co-founder of Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Wellington J. Denahan-Norris

C

Phillip J. Kardis II

CEO of Chimera Investment Corp.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.68M

Salary

$850.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$19.80K

Total Holdings

$6.46M

S

Andrew J. Sossen

CEO of Starwood Property Trust

2023 Compensation

Stock

$608.18K

Salary

$425.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$3.65M

O

G. Hunter Haas IV

CEO of Orchid Island Capital

2023 Compensation

Stock

$102.50K

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$791.61K

A

Anastasia Mironova

CEO of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

2023 Compensation

Stock

$149.99K

Salary

$329.84K

Bonus

$470.01K

Other

$50.42K

Total Holdings

$289.41K

T

William Greenberg

CEO of Two Harbors Investment Corporation

2021 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$829.12K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$130.76K

Total Holdings

$5.56M

Holdings

See how much did Wellington J. Denahan-Norris make over time.

Wellington J. Denahan-Norris had a strong stake in Annaly Capital Management, with her holdings peaking at over $18 million in value in November 2019. She consistently sold shares over the years, with notable transactions in January 2022, indicating her confidence...

Wellington J. Denahan-Norris had a strong stake in Annaly Capital Management, with her holdings peaking at over $18 million in value in November 2019. She consistently sold shares over the years, with notable transactions in January 2022, indicating her confidence in the company's direction. As of late 2022, her holdings were valued at approximately $14 million, reflecting both a solid investment strategy and her commitment to maintaining liquidity over time. These fluctuations in her holdings align with her executive role and the company's performance, demonstrating active engagement with shareholder interests.

Mar 17, 2025

N

shares

NLY @ $21.84

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Wellington J. Denahan-Norris.

NLY

$1.50M

NLY at $11.97/share

Dec 7, 2017

Purchase

NLY

$1.03M

NLY at $10.33/share

Aug 21, 2015

Purchase

NLY

$2.00M

NLY at $10.08/share

May 8, 2015

Purchase

NLY

$1.86M

NLY at $10.04/share

May 8, 2015

Purchase

NLY

$1.00M

NLY at $11.52/share

Aug 13, 2014

Purchase

NLY

$993.24K

NLY at $10.68/share

Nov 8, 2013

Purchase

NLY

$2.00M

NLY at $10.98/share

Aug 20, 2013

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did Wellington J. Denahan-Norris make over time.

Wellington J. Denahan-Norris’s compensation has varied significantly over her tenure at Annaly Capital Management. In 2022, she earned a total of $14.3 million, which included a salary of $1 million, a performance bonus exceeding $5.9 million, and the value of vested stock which added around $5.5 million to her income. This structure aligns her pay with Annaly's performance metrics, focusing heavily on bonuses tied to the company's success. Notably, in 2021, her reported compensation plummeted to just $145,000 due to a lack of bonuses and stock vesting, highlighting the volatile nature of compensation in finance based on company performance.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$12.52M

Salary

$1.00M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy seeks to align the interests of executives with those of stockholders, focusing on performance-based pay and long-term value creation.

Bonus

$5.98M

Board Justification

The bonus is based on the company's performance metrics and individual contributions, with a final multiplier of 95% applied to the target value due to stock market performance.

Other

$14.33K

Board Justification

Includes company-paid group excess liability insurance premiums and 401(k) match.

Restricted Stock

$5.53M(247.1K RSU)

Board Justification

The stock that vested in 2022 includes previously granted RSUs, which are based on continued service and performance metrics.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics include both financial and non-financial goals, with a focus on tangible economic return and operating efficiency.

Other Annaly Capital Management CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Annaly Capital Management

David L. Finkelstein

CEO of Annaly Capital Management

March 2020 - Present