GlobeSt.com EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Title Picks Off Competitor's All-Star

DALLAS-The regional manager of Chicago Title’s Southwest Commercial Operations has capped an aggressive five-year raid of competitors’ management teams by hooking a senior vice president who wouldn’t return his calls three years ago. With the final member of the team in place, the Chicago Title exec says he’s poised to capture top market share in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Joining Chicago Title as senior vice president is Leslie B. Wheeler, who exited the same role at Republic Title after a 10-year stint. Wheeler, who brought an assistant with her, pushes Chicago Title’s head count to 42. Execs for Plano-based Republic Title weren’t available for comment prior to publication.

“I’ve been slowly picking off what I consider to be the key people from my competitors,” Thomas Garner, vice president and regional manager for Chicago Title’s southwest region, tells GlobeSt.com. Five years ago, he took over the helm after 20 title specialists bailed and headed to a competitor’s camp. “I previously was looked at as kind of an upstart. With each year, I’ve added more people,” he says. “It’s pretty evident now in the market that we clearly are a competitor.” He says Wheeler’s hiring “sent a very strong message to the marketplace. She is my latest victory….and a shining star.”