Farmer Mac Announces New Chief Legal Officer and Planned Retirement of General Counsel
Farmer Mac, the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, has announced the appointment of Geraldine Hayhurst as its new Executive Vice President – Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, effective from September 8, 2025. Hayhurst brings over two decades of legal experience, having previously served as Associate General Counsel, Corporate and Compliance at CoStar Group, Inc., and as General Counsel and Secretary at NewPoint Real Estate Capital.
The company's current Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary, Stephen Mullery, will retire on April 3, 2026, after 25 years of service. Mullery joined Farmer Mac in 2000 as Assistant General Counsel and has played a key role in the company's legal affairs, providing counsel to the board of directors, executives, and cross-functional teams.
During his tenure, Mullery has been instrumental in strengthening Farmer Mac both financially and operationally, as well as promoting an ethical culture and effective corporate governance. He will stay on as an advisor to Hayhurst to ensure a smooth transition.
Hayhurst, who holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a BBA in Finance from Loyola University, has a proven track record of creating and driving strategy, advising board members, and acting as a key advisor to CEOs and executive committee members.
In the words of Brad Nordholm, Farmer Mac’s President and Chief Executive Officer, "We are thrilled to have Geraldine join Farmer Mac. Her experience creating and driving strategy have helped her achieve significant success in previous roles, and we look forward to her sharing these talents with our team."
Nordholm also expressed gratitude for Mullery's dedication, stating, "Steve has dedicated a significant part of his career to serving rural America with Farmer Mac. As one of our longest-serving leaders, Steve exemplifies Farmer Mac’s brand values in his management of the company’s legal affairs."
Farmer Mac remains focused on its mission to increase the accessibility of financing to provide vital liquidity for American agriculture and rural infrastructure. The company offers a wide range of solutions to help meet financial institutions’ growth, liquidity, risk management, and capital relief needs across diverse markets, including agriculture, agribusiness, broadband infrastructure, power and utilities, and renewable energy. The market has reacted to these announcements by moving the company's shares 1.62% to a price of $191.56. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
