Key Takeaways
- • Mark Sullivan, Head of Hedge Fund Group at Wellington Management, assumes MFA Board Chair effective October 1, 2026, succeeding Jody Gunderson of AB CarVal, signaling continuity in industry leadership during a period of regulatory scrutiny.
- • Sona Gohel, Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Davidson Kempner Capital Management, elected Vice Chair, bringing operational expertise from a major alternative asset manager to the governance structure.
- • MFA Board additions include Matthew Goulet (Fidelity Institutional) and Brian Marcus (Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management), expanding representation across institutional wealth channels and credit platforms.
- • The leadership transition occurs amid renewed policy scrutiny of alternative asset managers, with MFA positioning itself to influence regulatory frameworks governing capital raising and investment operations for institutional beneficiaries including pensions, foundations, and endowments.
Summary
The Managed Funds Association announced its Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term on October 1, 2026, with Mark Sullivan of Wellington Management assuming the Chair role. Sullivan, who previously served as Vice Chair, replaces Jody Gunderson, Managing Principal of AB CarVal. The transition reflects the industry's leadership continuity at a critical juncture as policymakers revisit regulatory frameworks governing alternative asset management.
Sullivan's elevation marks a strategic positioning for MFA during a period of heightened regulatory attention. As Head of Wellington Management's Hedge Fund Group, Sullivan brings substantial operational experience from one of the industry's largest alternative asset managers. MFA President and CEO Bryan Corbett characterized the outgoing Chair as having strengthened the organization's influence, while framing Sullivan's tenure around unified industry advocacy: "MFA brings together leaders from across our industry to speak with a unified voice."
Sona Gohel, Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Davidson Kempner Capital Management, was elected Vice Chair, complementing Sullivan's leadership with operational and management expertise. The Vice Chair position underscores MFA's emphasis on operational competency alongside investment management experience. New Board directors Matthew Goulet of Fidelity Institutional and Brian Marcus of Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management expand the Board's reach into institutional distribution channels and alternative credit platforms, reflecting the diversification of the alternative asset management ecosystem.
The Board's agenda centers on advancing policies that enable capital formation and investment operations for institutional beneficiaries including pension funds, foundations, and endowments. Sullivan's stated priority is building consensus across MFA's membership base to shape regulatory discourse surrounding alternative asset management, signaling that advocacy and policy influence remain central to the association's 2026–2027 focus.
Sullivan's elevation marks a strategic positioning for MFA during a period of heightened regulatory attention. As Head of Wellington Management's Hedge Fund Group, Sullivan brings substantial operational experience from one of the industry's largest alternative asset managers. MFA President and CEO Bryan Corbett characterized the outgoing Chair as having strengthened the organization's influence, while framing Sullivan's tenure around unified industry advocacy: "MFA brings together leaders from across our industry to speak with a unified voice."
Sona Gohel, Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Davidson Kempner Capital Management, was elected Vice Chair, complementing Sullivan's leadership with operational and management expertise. The Vice Chair position underscores MFA's emphasis on operational competency alongside investment management experience. New Board directors Matthew Goulet of Fidelity Institutional and Brian Marcus of Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management expand the Board's reach into institutional distribution channels and alternative credit platforms, reflecting the diversification of the alternative asset management ecosystem.
The Board's agenda centers on advancing policies that enable capital formation and investment operations for institutional beneficiaries including pension funds, foundations, and endowments. Sullivan's stated priority is building consensus across MFA's membership base to shape regulatory discourse surrounding alternative asset management, signaling that advocacy and policy influence remain central to the association's 2026–2027 focus.
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