A Finance Strategic Moment
Facing a liquidity crunch, Upton convened a cross‑functional team, ran downside‑focused scenario models on every business, and pinpointed one unit for divestiture. A swift minority IPO abroad raised capital at a premium valuation, cut leverage, strengthened Genworth’s balance sheet—and put Upton’s strategic acumen squarely on the CEO’s radar.
Made Possible By
Now Watch our Complete Episode Featuring CFO Jerome Upton of Genworth Financial
Jerome Upton anchors his leadership in lessons learned as a collegiate team captain: align on goals, then empower execution. After leaving a small insurer to broaden his skills at KPMG, he joined GE Capital—predecessor to Genworth—taking international finance roles, board seats, and leading a minority IPO that injected critical capital. Elevated to CFO in 2023, Upton balances defense and offense: retiring debt, repurchasing shares, and leveraging Genworth’s 81 % stake in Enact while funding CareScout to serve America’s rapidly growing long‑term‑care market. He champions AI pilots, rigorous downside planning, and a culture where self‑directed teams own decisions for nationwide aging‑care solutions.
Strategic‑Mindset Bullets
- Capital discipline funds innovation and growth
- Delegates decisions to self‑directed expert teams
- Plans for downside before chasing upside