WASHINGTON — David B. Kellermann, Freddie Mac's acting chief financial officer, was found dead at his home Wednesday in what local news reports said was an apparent suicide.
Kellermann took over the CFO post last September and was responsible for Freddie's financial controls, financial reporting, tax, capital oversight and compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley law.
He joined the company in 1992 as a financial analyst, and when he was promoted last fall he was a senior vice president, corporate controller and the company's principal accounting officer. This job put him in charge of supplying "timely, accurate and well-controlled GAAP, fair-value and segment earnings financial statements and external disclosures," according to Freddie's official biography of Kellermann.
A Fairfax County Police spokeswoman told a local radio station that Kellermann, 41, was found at his suburban Washington home Wednesday morning.
Mary Anne Jennings told WTOP radio that family members called the police to "investigate an apparent suicide."
In a statement, the Federal Housing Finance Agency described Kellermann as being a person of "the utmost ethical standards, who was hardworking and knowledgeable in his field."
"As the acting chief financial officer of Freddie Mac during particularly challenging times, David was an inspiration to his staff and many others who were privileged to work with him," the agency said. "We extend our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues."
Kellerman's death was the latest blow to Freddie, which lost its chief executive, David Moffett, last month when he unexpectedly resigned.
A statement from John Koskinen, Freddie's interim CEO, said, "David was a man of great talents."
"He dedicated those talents to Freddie Mac for more than 16 years, serving in many business and finance capacities before recently taking the reins as acting chief financial officer," Koskinen said. "His extraordinary work ethic and integrity inspired all who worked with him. But he will be most remembered for his affability, his personal warmth, his sense of humor and his quick wit."
