Brighthouse Financial Appoints Richard A. Cook as Chief Accounting Officer

What Happened Brighthouse Financial (BHF) announced in an 8-K (Item 5.02) that the Board appointed Richard A. Cook, the Company’s Deputy Chief Accounting Officer, to serve as Chief Accounting Officer effective September 3, 2026. He will succeed Melissa B. Pavlovich, who informed the company on August 12, 2026 that she accepted a new opportunity and will resign, with her last day being September 2, 2026. The filing states Ms. Pavlovich’s departure is not due to any disagreement or issue related to the company’s financial statements, disclosures, or accounting practices.

Key Details

• Appointment effective date: September 3, 2026; Pavlovich’s last day: September 2, 2026.
• Compensation for Cook: $425,000 annual base salary; target short-term incentive of 60% of base pay; target long-term incentive value of $219,500 (awards subject to plan terms, individual performance and company performance goals).
• Cook’s background: age 50; with Brighthouse since 2016 (joined as Investment Controller); served as Interim CAO Nov 2024–Aug 2025 and has been Deputy CAO since Aug 2025. Prior roles include regulatory reporting and investment accounting positions at MetLife and earlier experience at State Street and AEGON.

Why It Matters A CAO transition is a material leadership change for the team that oversees financial reporting and accounting controls. Investors should note the effective date and that the company explicitly disclaimed any accounting-related disagreement tied to the departing CAO. Compensation details show the company’s incentive alignment for the new CAO but do not by themselves indicate a change to financial results or controls.