First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a premier provider of title, settlement, and risk solutions for real estate transactions and the leader in the digital transformation of its industry, today announced that Sally French Tyler, president of First American Title Insurance Company, was named a winner of HousingWire’s 2026 Vanguard Award. Tyler joins an exclusive group of two-time winners of the award, as she was previously recognized in 2024.
The HousingWire Vanguard Award recognizes C-level industry leaders within housing and mortgage finance whose leadership moves markets forward each and every day. HousingWire Vanguard Award winners are selected by a panel of editors and reporters for their vital contributions to their companies and their transformations of the mortgage and real estate industries.
“Sally is an extraordinary leader with an ability to drive growth, while never losing sight of the people and customers that power the business,” said Mark Seaton, CEO of First American. “She’s spent her career building up the next generation of leaders, and that combination of business results and genuine investment in people is exactly what makes her, and First American, stronger.”
As president of First American Title, Tyler oversees the company’s entire title business across its direct, agency, and commercial operations. Over the past year, Tyler led the business to its strongest financial performance in years. First American’s Title Insurance and Services segment posted revenue up 22 percent in 2025, and commercial revenue reached $1.0 billion for the year, up 32 percent, before setting a first-quarter record in 2026, up 48 percent year over year.
“The 2026 HousingWire Vanguards represent the leadership our industry needs for this moment,” said Sarah Wheeler, editor-in-chief of HousingWire. “They are navigating disruption with clarity, bringing bold ideas to the table and executing strategies that create real results. Their influence extends beyond their own organizations, helping move the entire housing ecosystem toward a stronger and more innovative future.”
Tyler, who recently announced she will retire at the end of the year, previously led the company’s direct residential and commercial title operations, and before that, spent 15 years at the helm of First American Title’s National Commercial Services division, more than doubling its operating revenue and growing it into one of the largest commercial title and settlement operations in the country.
She also helped bring a significant consumer-protection innovation to market this year, leading the launch of a free property title monitoring and fraud alert service that pairs proactive monitoring of new property filings with a title insurance policy’s protection.
In addition to her business contributions to First American, Tyler strongly supports the company’s people-first culture. After becoming the first woman to reach the executive vice president level in the company’s history, she co-founded the company’s Women in Leadership initiative, which 90 women have graduated from since its launch. She also serves on the boards of First Canadian Title Insurance Company, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, the CREW Foundation, and the Real Estate Group of Atlanta, and she formerly served on the board of MISMO.
About First American Title Insurance Company
First American Title Insurance Company, the largest subsidiary of First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), traces its history to 1889. One of the largest title insurers in the nation, the company offers title services through its direct operations and an extensive network of agents throughout the United States and abroad. First American Title provides comprehensive title insurance coverage and professional services for real estate purchases, construction, refinances and equity loans. For more information, visit www.firstam.com/title.
About First American
First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a premier provider of title, settlement and risk solutions for real estate transactions. With its combination of financial strength and stability built over more than 135 years, innovative proprietary technologies, and unmatched data assets, the company is leading the digital transformation of its industry. First American also provides data products to the title industry and other third parties; valuation products and services; mortgage subservicing; home warranty products; banking, trust and wealth management services; and other related products and services. With total revenue of $7.5 billion in 2025, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2026, First American was named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Great Place to Work® and Fortune Magazine for the eleventh consecutive year. More information about the company can be found at www.firstam.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260901708811/en/
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