The chief financial officer and vice president of the US-backed mortgage group Freddie Mac has been found dead in his home in Fairfax, Virginia.
Police said they were called to the house of David Kellerman at about 5am after being alerted by his wife.
A Fairfax County police spokeswoman said Mr Kellermann was dead, but she could not confirm reports that he took his own life.
According to Freddie Mac's website, Mr Kellermann was with Freddie Mac for more than 16 years and named acting chief financial officer in September.
The death is the latest blow to Freddie Mac, a government-controlled company that owns or guarantees about 13 million home loans. Chief executive David Moffett resigned last month.
McLean, Virginia-based Freddie Mac and sibling company Fannie Mae, which together own or back more than half of the home mortgages in the US, have been hobbled by skyrocketing loan defaults and have received about $60 billion in combined federal aid.
Mr Kellermann was named acting chief financial officer in September 2008, after the resignation of Anthony “Buddy” Piszel, who stepped down after the September 2008 government takeover.
The chief financial officer is responsible for the company’s financial controls, financial reporting and oversight of the company’s budget and financial planning.
Before taking that job, Mr Kellermann served as senior vice president, corporate controller and principal accounting officer.
Agencies