Exec Edge hosted a fireside chat at the ICR Conference 2026 with Fahmi Karam, Chief Executive Officer at Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD). The in-person interview was joined by Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone, and they discussed the company’s core brands Acima, Brigit and Rent-A-Center, the difference between Lease-to-Own and Buy Now, Pay Later, how Acima differs from Klarna, Affirm and others, among other topics.
About Fahmi Karam
Mr. Karam was appointed Chief Executive Officer effective June 1, 2025. Mr. Karam joined Upbound in October 2022 and has over 20 years of experience in finance and accounting, most recently as the Chief Financial Officer of Santander Consumer USA since September 2019. Mr. Karam previously served as Santander’s Head of Pricing and Analytics from May 2018 to September 2019 and as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development from September 2015 to May 2018. Prior to his roles at Santander, Mr. Karam spent 12 years at JP Morgan Investment Bank, where he ended serving as an Executive Director. Prior to JP Morgan, Mr. Karam served as a Senior Associate at Deloitte Audit Assurance Services for two years. Mr. Karam received his Bachelor’s degree and Master of Accounting from Baylor University, and he is a Certified Public Accountant.
About Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD)
Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD), is a technology and data-driven leader in accessible and inclusive financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of underserved consumers. The Company’s customer-facing operating units include industry-leading brands such as Acima®, Brigit
, and Rent-A-Center® that facilitate consumer transactions across a wide range of store-based and digital channels in the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Upbound Group, Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For additional information about the company, please visit our website https://www.Upbound.com
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