President and CEO
VBA | Milwaukee
Michael Clayton joined Milwaukee-based software company VBA as its chief executive officer and 12th employee in 2013. Today, the fast-growing firm, which develops cloud-based health benefits software, has more than 125 employees. In August 2023, the firm received a $156 million private equity investment led by Spectrum Equity, a growth equity firm based in Boston and San Francisco, and in 2024 the company moved its headquarters from Germantown to Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood.
Clayton, who was elected to the VBA board of directors in 2020, oversees VBA’s operations, has full profit and loss responsibility and leads its overall strategic plan development and execution.
Previously, Clayton was a partner in The Capital Executive Group LLC. As part of CEG, he was executive vice president, office of the chairman for Woods Equipment Company. Earlier, he worked for Textron’s Jacobsen Division, Deere & Company, Case Corporation/CNH Global NV and Ford Motor Company.
He currently serves on the board of directors for the Health Care Administrators Association.
An avid marathon runner and cyclist, he’s completed over 20 marathons, including those in Chicago, Boston and New York City, and bikes across the state of Iowa annually as part of the RAGBRAI bicycle tour. He’s helped fundraise for American Red Cross, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Children’s Hospital, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through some of his marathon and biking events.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Northern Iowa; MBA, Penn State University
