---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-26-108440"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FBRT"
cik: "0001562528"
company_name: "Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-09-17T12:43:51+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-09-17T12:45:12.363276+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# FBRT reappoints Richard Byrne as CEO; Comparato resigns for family reasons

## Summary
- Michael Comparato resigned as CEO Sept 15, 2026 to spend more time with family; stays as BSP Senior Advisor through 2027.
- Richard Byrne reappointed CEO effective Sept 16, 2026; he was CEO 2016-Feb 2026 and remains Chairman.
- CFO/COO Jerome Baglien named Co-President alongside Brian Buffone, will lead BSP's CRE debt platform.
- Leadership changes effective immediately; no financial guidance or restatement provided.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-26-108440
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FBRT
- cik: 0001562528
- company_name: Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-09-17T12:43:51+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562528/000110465926108440/0001104659-26-108440-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562528/000110465926108440/tm2625511d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-108440
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-108440.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-108440.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Jerome S. Baglien was appointed as Co-President at Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc..
  - Action: appointed as Co-President
  - Role: Co-President
  source text: appointed Jerome S. Baglien, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, to serve as Co-President of the Company, effective immediately
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562528/000110465926108440/0001104659-26-108440-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael Comparato departed as Chief Executive Officer at Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc..
  - Action: resigned as CEO
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: resigned as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on September 15, 2026
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562528/000110465926108440/0001104659-26-108440-index.htm
- Executive change
  Richard J. Byrne was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc..
  - Action: reappointed as CEO
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: reappointed Richard J. Byrne as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562528/000110465926108440/0001104659-26-108440-index.htm

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