Jan 7 (Reuters) - Mortgage finance firm Freddie Mac

said on Tuesday James Whitlinger, who has been filling

in as its interim chief financial officer since June, has taken

on the role permanently.

In his decade-long stint at the company, Whitlinger has also

served as its senior vice president and finance chief of the

single-family business.

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which were created to

broaden homebuyers' access to mortgage financing, have been

under the control of the U.S. government since being battered

during the 2008 financial crisis.

Their shares surged to multi-year highs last week after

federal agencies revealed a framework for their "orderly"

eventual release from conservatorship.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's administration is widely

expected to take steps to return the companies to private

ownership. Similar efforts during his first term fell short.