Stewart announced the appointment of Bruce Hawley as executive vice president of Stewart’s National Title Services to replace outgoing Paul Sands. Glenn Clements, group president of direct operations said Sand’s leadership provided NTS with a strong foundation and Hawley’s experience will build on that foundation and move the company forward.
After that endorsement, The Title Report, wanted to talk to them about their experiences and plans for the future.
We started with Sands and he gave us some surprising answers.
TTR: Please give me a brief history of your career:
PS: I started as a title examiner with Chicago Title in March 1969. I worked in the field as title examiner, underwriter, office manager and area manager. I worked with the corporate office of Chicago Title on special assignment to integrate some of the staff functions. I then transferred to the corporate office to implement some of those changes. That position then grew into responsibility for all non-title lines of business which were credit, flood and appraisal. I was responsible for the acquisitions, and then the management of the non-title lines of business. Information services / technology was later added to my responsibilities.
I ended my career with Chicago as general counsel for Chicago Title Insurance and Chicago Title and Trust.
I came to work for Stewart Title in May of 2000 as the director of National Title Services which is our national commercial services group. Interestingly enough, Bruce Hawley joined Stewart one week ahead of me.
TTR: What was your favorite moment during that time?
PS: Probably becoming general counsel of Chicago. I found that position so interesting because I was responsible for all legal functions which included underwriting and interfacing with the board of directors. I was involved in major underwriting decisions and big complicated deals.
TTR: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
PS: The growth of National Title Services at Stewart Tile. That was a great experience because there really was very little when I started.
TTR: What is your craziest title insurance “war story”?
PS: I have several but they are still confidential and some of the people involved are still alive.
TTR: What will you miss most?
PS: I will miss the people the most; dealing with the business and people at Stewart Title on a day to day basis.
TTR: What are your plans for retirement?
PS: Spending time with my family. I plan to golf and fly fish more. Also, I’m actually thinking of spending time as an intern brew master for six weeks in Belgium. I’ve always liked beer and the small local brewery.
TTR: How has the industry changed? Has it changed for the better or worse?
PS: It has changed with a consolidation into 4 or 5 major players and much larger agents. One of the biggest changes though, is the automation of the industry with more information at your fingertips and the ability to react much faster. I think it has changed for the better as far as the consumer is concerned. As for as the title professionals, there isn’t as much of a growing career path as in the past due to there being less companies and agencies. There were a lot more positions available than there are today.
TTR: What are you doing for your retirement party? Any special gift requests?
PS: For my retirement party I am going to take my two daughters, their husbands, five grandkids and wife on a Disney cruise.
As for a gift request? I’d like a few kind words.
While Sands makes the transition from executive vice president to intern, Hawley will have his hands full.
The Title Report: Please give me a brief history of your career
Bruce Hawley: After I graduated from law school in 1974, I began my legal career as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force. In 1979, I left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserves. It was also at that time that I entered the practice of law in Westport, Conn., and became a title insurance agent for Chicago Title and First American Title.
In 1987, I left private practice and joined Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance Company (CATIC) in Rocky Hill, Conn., as a state underwriting counsel. In 1990, I was recalled to active duty for Operation Desert Storm.
When I returned to civilian status in 1991, I joined Chicago Title as a state underwriting counsel in Stamford, Conn. About two years later, I moved on to be the Northeast regional claims counsel for Chicago Title in New York City. After 2 years in that position, I was appointed to the position of New England marketing manager for Chicago Title. After about 18 months, I was transferred to Boston and promoted to the position of New England area manager for Chicago Title and Ticor Title. I served in that position for about 30 months before being transferred back to New York City to become a national commercial underwriting counsel for Chicago Title and Ticor Title.
In 2000, I joined Stewart Title to become a senior underwriting counsel and the manager of the Stewart National Title Services New York Metro office. I retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a brigadier general in 2005. In 2008, I was promoted to the position of senior underwriting counsel and manager of Stewart's Multinational Title Services Group in New York City. I was promoted to the position of executive vice president of Stewart National Title Services in 2013.
TTR: What was your favorite moment in your previous position?
BH: One of the favorite moments in my career was finding out that I was being transferred from the Claims Department to the Marketing Department. After having to say "no" for several years while in claims, I had to learn how to say "yes" again when I moved to marketing!
TTR: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
BH: My greatest accomplishment was being able to stay happily married to my high school sweetheart and raising three wonderful children while juggling my title insurance and military careers simultaneously for 25 years!
TTR: What is your craziest title insurance “war story”?
BH: While I was in the Claims Department, I handled a claim involving a boundary line dispute between two neighbors who disliked each other so much that they got into a fist fight over the location of a child's swing set!
TTR: What are your plans in the new position? Do you have a specific agenda?
BH: My overall goal in my new position is to grow Stewart's share of commercial title insurance business throughout the United States and in all of the other countries in which Stewart does business.
TTR: How has the industry changed? Has it changed for the better or worse?
BH: Although the title industry has become more standardized, regulated and technical, at the end of the day, the keys to success are still speed, accuracy and highly-responsive customer service.
TTR: Are you excited? Scared? All the above?
BH: I am honored to be named as executive vice president of Stewart National Title Services.