8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):   April 18, 2012

NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	001-32216	47-0934168
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

52 Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 403

New York, New York  10017

(Address and zip code of

principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 792-0107

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act  (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 18, 2012, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Douglas E. Neal, an independent director of the Company, as Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Neal succeeds James J. Fowler as Chairman.

Mr. Fowler provided notice to the Board on April 18, 2012 of his decision to resign from the Board, effective immediately.  Mr. Fowler indicated in his notice to the Board that his resignation is not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter related to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. As previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company, Mr. Fowler had previously informed the Company that he would serve as a director and Chairman of the Board until the earlier of (a) the 2012 Annual Meeting to be held in May 2012, (b) the appointment of his successor by the Board or (c) his determination that his resignation is legally or for regulatory reasons advisable or appropriate under the circumstances.

As previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 30, 2012, the Board increased the size of the Board to six directors in connection with Mr. Neal’s appointment, while also indicating that it intended to decrease the size of the Board to five members upon the effective date of Mr. Fowler’s resignation. Concurrent with the resignation of Mr. Fowler and in accordance with Article III, Section 2 of the Company’s bylaws, the Board approved a resolution on April 18, 2012 that decreased the size of the Board to five members.

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 18, 2012, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Neal’s appointment as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Fowler’s resignation from the Board. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)           Exhibits.The following exhibit is being furnished herewith:

99.1           Press release dated April 18, 2012.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. (Registrant)
Date:  April 18, 2012	By:	/s/ Steven R. Mumma
		Steven R. Mumma Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

New York Mortgage Trust Announces Appointment of

Douglas E. Neal as Chairman of Board of Directors

NEW YORK, NY – April 18, 2012 - New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: NYMT) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Douglas E. Neal, an independent director of the Company, as the non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Neal, 52, is the founder of Neal Capital, which provides financial advisory services to real estate companies.  Prior to founding Neal Capital, Mr. Neal served as a Managing Director for the Real Estate Investment Banking Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and its predecessors from February 1998 to October 2011 and held various other positions with such predecessors from 1991 to 1998. He was appointed to the Board on April 2, 2012.

Mr. Neal succeeds James J. Fowler, who had previously indicated that he intended to step down from the Board at the earlier of the appointment of his successor by the Board or the Company’s 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Fowler’s resignation became effective on April 18, 2012.

Commenting on today’s announcement, James J. Fowler, the Company’s former Chairman, stated, “I congratulate Doug on his appointment as Chairman. The combination of his expertise in real estate capital markets and significant experience advising REITs as an investment banker uniquely qualify him to serve in this capacity and lead the Board in the future. I enjoyed serving the Board as its Chairman and wish the Company, the Board and the management team every success in the future.”

Mr. Neal commented, “I am honored and delighted to serve the Board as its Chairman. I believe there are significant opportunities for this Company to grow and build stockholder value and I look forward to working with the Board and the management team in the future as we work to achieve those things.”

“The Board and the Company are grateful to Jim Fowler for his many contributions to the Company and the Board since 2008 and we wish him the very best,” stated Steven R. Mumma, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “His vision and insights helped the Company to successfully navigate through an extremely difficult market environment in 2008 and 2009 and produce improved operating results and a higher book value. The Board has put considerable work and thought into the succession planning since Jim first announced that he would be stepping down from the Board in 2012. The Board is delighted that Doug has agreed to serve as Chairman. We believe his experience and expertise will ensure a seamless transition in leadership and continued execution of our business strategy.”

About New York Mortgage Trust

New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). The Company is in the business of acquiring, investing in, financing and managing primarily mortgage-related assets, including Agency and non-Agency residential mortgage-backed securities, high credit quality residential adjustable rate mortgage loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage loans and other financial assets.

For Further Information

AT THE COMPANY

Steven R. Mumma,

Chief Executive Officer and President

Phone:  212-792-0109

Email: smumma@nymtrust.com

When used in this press release, in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or in other written or oral communications, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “goal,” “objective,” “will,” “may” or similar expressions, are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions.

Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. In this press release, these forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company future growth opportunities and ability to grow stockholder value. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us and which may cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risk factors described in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect us. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.