Real estate mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp. announced Monday that Chief Financial Officer Thomas K. McLaughlin is leaving the company and will be replaced by an insider.

McLaughlin, who the company said is leaving to focus on personal interests, will be replaced by Eric Sieracki, executive managing director, effective April 1. Laughlin served as Countrywide’s chief financial officer since 2001 and will remain with the Calabasas-based company in an advisory capacity.

Countrywide said that upon Sieracki’s promotion, the chief financial officer will have oversight of all major financial management. Previously, Sieracki oversaw investor relations, corporate development and equity capital activities, while McLaughlin directed corporate accounting, treasury, financial planning, taxation and strategic planning.

Sieracki, most recently Countrywide’s senior managing director of corporate development and investor relations, has 17 years of experience in various executive financial positions within the company.

Before joining Countrywide in 1988, Sieracki was a manager with the accounting firm Grant Thornton.

Countrywide shares were up 0.9 percent to $32.16 by early afternoon trading Monday.