The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, has announced that Kurt Pfotenhauer will leave his position as chief executive officer at the end of the month to join First American Title Insurance Company as executive vice president and vice chairman.
"Everyone in the industry recognizes Kurt as a top performer. He brought record growth to ALTA in a down market, and we are confident that First American will benefit from Kurt's results-driven leadership," said Dennis Gilmore, chief executive officer of First American Financial Corporation. "Moreover, his working relationships with key mortgage industry players and government officials will bring added depth and breadth to our management of strategic opportunities."
In his new role, Pfotenhauer will maintain executive level relationships with some of the nation's largest money center banks and assist with political and legislative relations for First American.
“We are genuinely sorry to see Kurt leave ALTA, but he has built an extremely talented staff that is completely capable of keeping the association on a positive path to future success,” said Anne Anastasi, president of the American Land Title Association (ALTA). “Kurt departs with an impressive record of achievement during his three-and-a-half years as CEO. He revitalized the association’s advocacy efforts by creating a grassroots capability and growing contributions to the Title Insurance Political Action Committee by nearly 65 percent, and despite the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, Kurt has helped ALTA achieve record membership and revenues. Because of his vision, leadership and staff he assembled, ALTA is exceptionally well positioned strategically and financially.”
Pfotenhauer was named chief executive officer of ALTA in January 2008 after serving five years as senior vice president of government affairs for the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
“I cherish my time spent at ALTA, representing an industry that plays a vital role in the home buying process,” Pfotenhauer said. “I am very proud of the many successes ALTA has achieved during my leadership, but I leave behind a motivated and intelligent staff that will build upon the association’s success and will strive to reinforce the industry’s value proposition. I believe the best way to motivate people is to demand the best of yourself, and then invite others to join you. Let me just say, ALTA’s staff has come to the table, accepted challenges and delivered results.”
