Freddie Mac Names Former Flagstar Exec Sean Becketti as VP and Chief Economist

Freddie Mac has announced that Sean Becketti, an executive with broad experience in the private sector, government and academia, is joining the GSE as vice president and chief economist. Becketti brings extensive mortgage market research, modeling and analytics experience to his new role at Freddie Mac. As chief economist, he will lead a team that forecasts mortgage and housing market trends and conducts analysis and research on economic and policy issues affecting Freddie Mac.

"Sean is a seasoned economist who brings a great deal of experience in economic analytics, modeling, financial engineering and risk management," said Jerry Weiss, Freddie Mac executive vice president and chief administrative officer. "Freddie Mac and our customers will benefit from Sean's deep knowledge of the housing finance industry as our company builds a stronger, more efficient mortgage market for the future."

Becketti comes to Freddie Mac from Flagstar Bank, where he was senior vice president and head of modeling and analytics. Earlier, he headed up Fannie Mae's applied research function where he led a 70-person team of modelers, analysts and developers. His experience also includes senior executive roles with Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo in which he led research functions focused on mortgage markets and capital markets. Becketti also previously worked at Freddie Mac from 1996-2001 in several senior financial and analytical roles. Earlier in his career, he served as senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and as an assistant professor of economics at UCLA.