A spokeswoman from Freddie Mac declined to comment on Haldeman potentially being named CEO, noting the company is still in the recruitment process and would not comment on any potential candidates. Calls to the Federal Housing Finance Agency were not immediately returned. On Tuesday, mutual fund manager Putnam Investments said Haldeman stepped down as chairman of Putnam Investment Management LLC, president of Putnam Funds and trustee of the funds. Freddie Mac has been among the hardest-hit financial firms, along with fellow mortgage guarantor Fannie Mae, amid the housing slump, credit crisis and ongoing recession.