Lenders’ mortgage specialist Genworth is to send a senior executive with mortgage and investor relations experience to Australia, as the US company keeps alive its plans to float a share of its business here.

Georgette Nicholas will become CFO of the mortgage operation in February.

She is currently Genworth Financial’s Investor Relations Leader, and before that was CFO of the US mortgage insurance business.

Genworth CFO and Executive VP Martin Klein says Ms Nicholas will bring financial and mortgage expertise, plus significant experience with investors, to the role.

“With this move, along with the continued good performance of the business through the third quarter of this year, we remain focused on the strategic priority of a potential minority initial public offer of Australia, for which we expect better execution opportunities [next year].”

Genworth has delayed several times its plan to float up to 40% of its business here.

Ms Nicholas replaces Paul Fegan, a former CEO of St George Bank, who is leaving to focus on his directorships with other companies, including AMP.