Stewart Announces Agency Services Leadership Realignment

November 25, 2014

Stewart Title Guaranty Company announced a transition of leadership in the agency services group effective Jan. 1.

Mike Cranmer, senior vice president and Western States agency district manager, will retire at the end of the year. He joined the company in 1984, first in the Stewart Denver office serving as executive vice president and general counsel for many years and also serving regionally  in various roles including underwriting and claims. For the past 15 years, Cranmer worked in agency services. He is a past president of the Colorado Land Title Association and a chapter board member for The Real Estate Services Providers Council.

With Cranmer’s retirement, George Houghton, group president of agency operations, was asked to take on the Western States district role. He will now serve as executive vice president, Western States district manager, along with leading Stewart’s multi-state agency program.

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

With Houghton’s role change, 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.

“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, Stewart’s 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.”


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