Leadership Shakeup Embroils Nation’s Largest Underwriter

The dramatic leadership overhaul to the nation’s largest individual underwriter isn’t done yet.

Kevin Wall, co-president of First American Title Insurance Company, has left the firm, National Mortgage News reported. The company confirmed Wall’s exit, but did not provide a reason for his departure, which was reportedly sudden.

Wall led the company’s Agent/Lender Group, featuring the Agency, Mortgage Solutions, Docutech, First American India, Servicemac and Firstfunding businesses. He became an executive vice president and group president of the firm in 2021, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He had been with First American since 2013 following a stint with Nationstar, which has since evolved into Mr. Cooper. Previous employers include Corelogic, Norwest Financial, Wells Fargo Financial, Centex Home Equity, Saxon Mortgage and Morgan Stanley.

Sally Tyler, the other co-president, is still with the company.

Another figure no longer with the company is Kenneth DeGiorgio, who served as chief executive officer of parent company First American Corporation until two months ago. He was fired after being arrested for allegedly choking a cruise ship passenger and threatening to kill him after an interaction between his wife and the alleged victim.

Last month, federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case against him, according to the Press-Telegram. The case was terminated two weeks ago.

First American is the largest individual underwriter in the country, responsible for a 22.2 percent market share of title premiums written last year, according to American Land Title Association data. Fidelity National Financial is the largest title holding company.

First American suffered a serious cyberattack in late 2023, forcing the title company to shut down its website and some of its systems. Roughly 44,000 people had their data breached in the incident, the company later disclosed.

As of 12:30 PM ET on Thursday morning, First American Financial shares were up 1.6 percent for the day.

— Holden Walter-Warner