Skalka Appointed Chairman of Stewart's International Group

September 12, 2005

HOUSTON, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mike Skalka has been appointed chairman of Stewart's international group, and also has been elected to serve as chairman of the board of Stewart Information International Inc.; Stewart Title Guaranty de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Stewart's Mexico underwriter; and Stewart Title Limited, Stewart's underwriter in the United Kingdom.

Stewart Information International Inc., Stewart Title Guaranty de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and Stewart Title Limited are wholly owned subsidiaries of Stewart Information Services Corp. (NYSE: STC).

Stewart Morris Sr. has been appointed chairman emeritus of Stewart Information International Inc. and will continue to counsel on its activity. Morris pioneered Stewart's international expansion -- proclaiming that social stability and increased prosperity are created when private citizens and businesses own their homes, land and buildings, and have clear, transferable title to their property.

Under Morris' leadership, Stewart has opened operations in 14 countries whose combined population of 452 million exceeds that of the United States. Stewart's international services include: consulting on land law, enhancement of public land records, improvement of the conveyance process, encouragement of primary and secondary mortgage markets, and the issuance of appropriate title assurance.

"Mike Skalka has played an outstanding role since 1993 as general counsel and chief legal officer of Stewart Title Guaranty Co., as well as for Stewart Title Co. and Stewart Information Services Corp.," said Malcolm S. Morris, chairman and co-chief executive officer, Stewart Information Services Corp. "He hopes to complete the transition out of the general counsel role by Jan. 1.

"Mike has a long and distinguished history of involvement with our international efforts, having founded our United Kingdom underwriter in the early 1990s when he was serving as president of Stewart Title Insurance Co., our New York state underwriter," added Malcolm Morris. "We are so pleased to have the caliber of such an individual as Mike to assume the leadership role of the international arena that is so crucial to our company's future."

Skalka has served on the boards of Stewart Information International Inc., Stewart Title Limited and Stewart Title Guaranty de Mexico for a number of years. He came to the general counsel position from his role as president of Stewart Title Insurance Co., where he continues to serve as chairman. As the first chairman of the United Kingdom operation, Skalka underwrote the first European transaction where Stewart was involved.

He has more than 28 years' experience in the title insurance and real estate industries, is a member of the American Land Title Association Underwriting Counsel Committee and Indian Lands Committee, and served as president of the New York State Land Title Association. Skalka received his B.A. degree from C.W. Post College of Long Island University and his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Source: Stewart Information Services Corp.


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