First American Financial announced that Sally French Tyler, president of First American Title Insurance Company, will retire at the end of 2026 after 21 years with the company and a 40-year title career.
Tyler joined First American in January 2005 and became president of its National Commercial Services division the following year.
During her 15 years leading the business, she more than doubled its operating revenue and helped build it into one of the nation’s largest commercial title and settlement operations, leaders said.
Responsibilities later expanded across First American’s title business, culminating in her appointment as president of First American Title in 2025. In that role, Tyler oversees the company’s direct, agency and commercial title operations.
“What I will remember most about my career at First American isn’t the positions or milestones—it’s the people, the friendships, the challenges we tackled together and the trust we earned from our customers,” she said. “What makes First American extraordinary is not simply what we accomplish, but how we accomplish it — with integrity, humility and a genuine commitment to serving each other and our customers. I have complete confidence that the very best chapters of First American are still ahead.”
Under Tyler’s leadership, the Title Insurance and Services segment increased revenue 22% in 2025, while full-year commercial revenue reached $1 billion, up 32% from the prior year.
“Sally’s impact on First American and the title industry is difficult to overstate,” said Mark Seaton, CEO of First American. “She is an exceptional business leader who understands our customers, cares deeply about our people and has helped shape First American into the company it is today.”
Tyler has also earned placement as a HousingWire Vanguard, recognizing her commitment to empowering women in title and real estate.
Throughout her career, Tyler has also focused on innovation and leadership development. She created VisionQuest, an internal program designed to help employees develop new ideas that ultimately led to First American’s end-to-end digital platform for commercial real estate transactions.
More recently, First American launched a free property title monitoring and fraud alert service incorporating AI-powered capabilities from its EagleAI technology.
In addition to being the first woman in First American’s history to reach the executive vice president level, Tyler co-founded the company’s Women in Leadership Initiative in 2012. She has also served in leadership and board roles with organizations including CREW Network, MISMO, the CREW Foundation and the Real Estate Group of Atlanta.
Tyler said her retirement has been planned to support a smooth transition, and that she will remain actively engaged with First American through the end of 2026.
“It has been the honor of my career to serve alongside the people of First American,” Tyler added. “Buildings don’t make companies. Strategies don’t make companies. People do. And, if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that the people of First American will continue to do extraordinary things.”
This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.