AmTrust Title Insurance Company announced that Read Hammond Esq., a national commercial title underwriter and commercial operations manager with more than 17 years of experience, has joined AmTrust Title’s expanding team as Senior Vice President/Southwest Regional manager.

Situated in Houston, Mr. Hammond is charged with growing the business in Texas as well as focusing on establishing agency title operations in New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada.

“We are delighted to bring Read aboard to oversee expansion throughout the Southwest region,” said Steven Napolitano, executive vice president of AmTrust Title Company, who added that with a strong foothold in Texas, AmTrust is well-poised to expand to the nearby aforementioned states where the demand for a new approach to title insurance, with less bureaucracy, more transparency and better technology, is rising.

“Read has unparalleled experience as a national commercial underwriter and operations manager, overseeing all aspects of the title business from production to budgets to accuracy to timing, and more, and he is also widely known and respected in the industry.He understands our culture and is extremely qualified to spearhead growth as the company expands westward.”

Prior to joining AmTrust, Mr. Hammond was Vice President/Area Operations Manager and Underwriting Counsel for First American’s operations in Texas.During his tenure, he expanded First American’s operations to three offices in the state.

Earlier, he was an Associate Attorney with the law firm of Jones Walker.

Mr. Hammond earned a J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center, and an undergraduate degree with a major in music, a minor in business, at the University of Texas at Austin.

About AmTrust Title Insurance Company

AmTrust Title is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. is a Fortune 500 multi-national insurer, offering specialty property and casualty insurance products, including workers' compensation, commercial automobile, general liability and extended service and warranty coverage. The AmTrust Group of Insurance carriers are rated “A” (Excellent), FSC “XV” by A.M. Best Company, and AmTrust Title is rated “A-“(Excellent) by A.M. Best Company and “A” (Exceptional) by Demotech. For AmTrust Title, this combination of strong financial backing and advanced technology translates into immediate strength for real estate clients.