Curt G. Johnson Promoted to President of First American Title Insurance Company

December 5, 2006

SANTA ANA, Calif., -- The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) on Monday named Curt G. Johnson president of First American Title Insurance Company. Johnson, who previously served as senior vice president and National Commercial Services director for First American Title, will assume responsibility for overseeing the company's title operations on a national level.

Johnson succeeds Gary L. Kermott, who recently moved to the position of vice chairman for First American Title Insurance Company.

"Curt is a proven and respected leader," said Parker S. Kennedy, chairman and chief executive officer for The First American Corporation. "He has excelled in meeting every challenge he's faced at First American and has done a great job of managing our National Commercial Services group, one of the most successful and efficient divisions leading growth and profitability in our title operations. Curt has tremendous energy, dedication and experience, and I am confident that he will do a great job in his new position."

Johnson began his career with First American in 1996, when he was hired as vice president-Builder/Commercial Services for the company's Phoenix branch office. Two years later, he transferred to the Santa Ana, Calif., office to accept the position of vice president-California Subdivision, and in 2000 he was named senior vice president-National Subdivision director. In 2001, Johnson assumed the position of senior vice president and director for the company's National Commercial Services group.

"First American Title is well positioned as the industry leader, and I look forward to leveraging that role to launch the next phase of the company's growth and development. My focus will include bringing about profit margin improvement through process, product and operational innovation," stated Johnson. "As with any change, we have the opportunity to look at new ways to improve our company for the benefit of our investors, employees and consumers."

Prior to joining First American, Johnson served for six years as senior associate for Prudential Arizona Realty Commercial Services Group in Phoenix. Prior to that, he served as executive vice president-designated broker for the Phoenix office of Merrill Lynch Commercial Real Estate. Johnson started his real estate career with Westcor, Inc.

Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Arizona State University in Tempe. He is currently involved with various professional organizations including the National Association of Home Builders, the California Building Industry Association, the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers, and he holds the CCIM designation awarded by the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute.

Johnson, who was born in Oregon, lived in Arizona for 41 years, before relocating to San Juan Capistrano, Calif., in 1998, where he lives with his wife and their son.

Source: The First American Corporation


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