---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-26-012725"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FBRT"
cik: "0001562528"
company_name: "Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-02-10T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T03:35:06.482446+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Franklin BSP Realty Trust appoints Michael Comparato as CEO; Brian Buffone as President

## Summary
- Michael Comparato, previously President, appointed CEO effective Feb 10, 2026; Richard Byrne resigns as CEO but remains Chairman.
- Brian Buffone, Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Operations at Advisor, promoted to President.
- Comparato served as President since March 2023 and is Senior Managing Director at Benefit Street Partners.
- No family relationships or transactions between new officers and the company.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-26-012725
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FBRT
- cik: 0001562528
- company_name: Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-02-10T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562528/000110465926012725/0001104659-26-012725-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562528/000110465926012725/tm265880d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-012725
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-012725.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-012725.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.