At American Land Title Association’s (ALTA) annual convention, the company announced the election of Peter J. Birnbaum, president of Attorney Title Guaranty Fund (ATG), to the 2009-2010 board of governors.
During its 85-year history, only one other bar-related title company executive has served on ALTA’s board. Birnbaum will also serve at ALTA’s underwriters section representative.

“I look forward to uniquely representing ATG’s nearly 4,000 member attorneys in my new position with ALTA’s Board of Governors,” Birnbaum said.

Birnbaum comes to the ALTA board of governors with more than 28 years of experience in the real estate industry and is considered a highly regarded member of the legal and real estate communities.

He began his career at ATG in 1981 as a law clerk and has served as president and CEO of the company since 1991. Currently, he oversees a staff of 165 people and annual revenues in excess of $30 million. Birnbaum has been a judge in the Illinois Court of Claims since 2004, and he has held leadership positions on various corporate and philanthropic boards.

“During his 28 years with Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Peter has continually brought progressive ideas, ceaseless energy and strong leadership to his organization and to the broader title industry,” Kurt Pfotenhauer, CEO of ALTA, said. “We look forward to the meaningful contribution Peter will make on our Board of Governors.”

As part of ALTA’s 11-member board of governors, Birnbaum will aid in creating association policy, managing the financial health of the association, overseeing the work of 33 committees, and ensuring the overall welfare of the association. Based in Washington, D.C., ALTA represents more than 3,000 title insurance companies, agents, and abstracters nationwide on a variety of industry and legislative issues. Members of ALTA search, review, and insure land titles to protect homebuyers and mortgage lenders who invest in real estate.