Stewart Announces the Promotion of Chief Underwriting Counsel

Wilhelmina Kightlinger has been named Chief Underwriting Counsel for the Stewart Title family of companies while Jeremy Poetker replaces her as Chief Underwriter for National Commercial Services

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC) announced today that Wilhelmina Kightlinger has been promoted to Chief Underwriting Counsel for the Stewart Title family of companies. Kightlinger will focus on strengthening the company’s corporate underwriting capacity and growing Stewart’s footprint in underrepresented markets.

“World class underwriting is a cornerstone of Stewart’s success, and the role of Chief Underwriting Counsel is crucial in fulfilling our mission to provide thoughtful, creative and practical underwriting to support our direct operations and agents as deal facilitators,” said Elizabeth Giddens, Chief Legal Officer. “Wilhelmina has demonstrated proven success as head of underwriting for Stewart’s National Commercial Services division, and we look forward to seeing her thrive in this new role."

Kightlinger’s appointment builds on her proven track record of success and ongoing dedication to supporting underwriting excellence, first demonstrated as a commercial underwriting counsel at Stewart from 2005 to 2009. She re-joined Stewart in 2022 as Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel for the National Commercial Services (NCS) division and was soon promoted to Chief Underwriting Counsel for the division in 2023. Under her leadership, NCS successfully implemented several education and communication-focused initiatives, including the NCS Underwriting Onboarding and Underwriting Mentorship Programs, as well as the NCS quarterly newsletter and webinar series. Her continued impact was recognized in 2024, when she was promoted to Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel for the Stewart Title family of companies.

“I am honored to take on the Chief Underwriting Counsel role for Stewart and build upon a well-established legacy of underwriting excellence,” said Kightlinger. “I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and agents to foster innovation, support growth, and deliver the thoughtful, creative solutions that define Stewart’s commitment to its clients.”

As Kightlinger steps into her new role heading underwriting for the Stewart Title family of companies, Jeremy Poetker has been promoted to Chief Underwriter for NCS. Poetker joined Stewart as a senior underwriter in 2016, becoming a key member of the New York Metro national commercial team. He has successfully underwritten complex transactions across the commercial real estate spectrum—including multi-state portfolios, international resorts, energy, and infrastructure projects—which earned him a place on the Senior Underwriting Committee responsible for the largest and most consequential risks undertaken by the company. Poetker also serves on committees for Renewable Energy, Cannabis, and Bankruptcy and as one of the few underwriters specializing in UCC insurance, he has played a pivotal role in developing Stewart’s newly revised UCC policy.

“Wilhelmina’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming our underwriting group into the collaborative and innovative team it is today,” said Erin Sheckler, Head of NCS. “Her impact will undoubtedly carry forward as she steps into her new role, and I couldn’t be more excited to see her continue driving excellence across Stewart. At the same time, we are fortunate to have Jeremy taking the reins as Chief Underwriter for NCS after working alongside Wilhelmina to ensure continuity in leadership within the division. His vast experience and visionary mindset make him the perfect choice to build on the incredible foundation she has established.”

Poetker is dedicated to educating and mentoring new underwriters in the company's Underwriter Mentorship Program. Additionally, he is an active speaker, delivering internal webinars and presentations to Stewart clients and personnel as well as presenting at prestigious forums such as the American Land Title Association and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Winnipeg and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business.

About Stewart

Stewart (NYSE-STC) is a global real estate services company, offering products and services through our direct operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers™ and family of companies. From residential and commercial title insurance and closing and settlement services to specialized offerings for the mortgage and real estate industries, we offer the comprehensive service, deep expertise and solutions our customers need for any real estate transaction. At Stewart, we are dedicated to becoming the premier title services company and we are committed to doing so by partnering with our customers to create mutual success. Learn more at stewart.com.