Stewart® Announces Agency Services Leadership Realignment

Stewart Title Guaranty Company announced today a transition of leadership in the agency services group, that supports Stewart’s growing network of independent title agencies known as Stewart Trusted Providers™. These changes, effective January 1, 2015, build on the success George Houghton and his team have created within Agency Services and Stewart’s Trusted Provider Network of independent agencies.

“The support and dedication that our agency services group continuously gives to our network of independent agencies has contributed immensely to making Stewart the trusted provider and leader in the real estate and title industry,” said Matt Morris, CEO. “We have been able to align and grow our independent agency network largely thanks to the hard work and leadership of this team, and I am confident that this new alignment of management will only continue to grow our network and support Stewart’s agencies.”

Senior vice president, Western States agency district manager Mike Cranmer will retire at the end of the year. Since joining the company in 1984, he has served in a series of increasingly responsible roles, first in the Stewart Denver office serving as executive vice president and general counsel for many years and also serving Stewart regionally in various roles including underwriting, claims and, for the past 15 years, in agency services. A past president of the Colorado Land Title Association, and a chapter board member for The Real Estate Services Providers Council, Cranmer has provided dedicated leadership not only at Stewart, but throughout the real estate and title industry.

With Mike’s retirement, group president, Agency Operations, George Houghton asked to take on the Western States district role. He will now serve as executive vice president, Western States district manager, along with leading our multi-state agency program. Houghton has worked tirelessly as Stewart has grown and realigned, undertaking immense responsibility in working to transform our agency network and how we manage it. He will relocate to Wyoming, remaining one of Stewart’s trusted leaders and continuing to add tremendous value.

“I truly appreciate Mike’s commitment, leadership and expertise, and congratulate him on a well-deserved retirement,” Houghton says. “I look forward to continuing to serve Stewart and our agency customers.”

With George’s role change comes another important opening. Patrick Beall, executive vice president, agency services senior director, will be promoted to group president, agency operations. Beall began his 28-year tenure with Stewart as president of Professional Real Estate Tax Service, later serving in several roles within direct and agency operations. He is a member of the Texas Land Title Association and its finance committee, as well as a former member of the Oklahoma Land Title Association’s board of directors.

Morris continues, “Our Agency Services group has prospered to help Stewart become a leader in the industry as we’ve built a stable and profitable agency network. We have grown thanks in large part to the hard work, dedication and leadership of George, Pat and Mike. We wish each of them continued success professionally and personally.”

For more information, visit http://www.stewart.com/agencyservices.

About Stewart

Stewart Title Guaranty Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stewart Information Services Corp. (NYSE: STC), a customer-focused, global title insurance and real estate services company offering products and services through our direct operations, network of approved agencies and other companies within the Stewart family. Stewart provides these services to homebuyers and sellers; residential and commercial real estate professionals; mortgage lenders and servicers; title agencies and real estate attorneys; home builders; and United States and county governments. Stewart also provides loan origination and servicing support; loan review services; loss mitigation; REO asset management; collateral valuations; due diligence for capital markets; home and personal insurance services; tax-deferred exchanges; and technology to streamline the real estate process. Stewart offers personalized service, industry expertise and customized solutions for virtually any type of real estate transaction, and is the preferred real estate services provider. More information can be found at http://www.stewart.com/news, subscribe to the Stewart blog at http://blog.stewart.com or follow Stewart on Twitter @stewarttitleco.

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