Deborah J. Matz
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICESAbout Deborah J. Matz
Independent director at Stewart Information Services Corporation (STC) since 2020; age 74. Former U.S. regulator with deep financial oversight experience, including Chair of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), Voting Member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), and Chair of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). Serves on STC’s Audit and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees, and is designated by the Board as an Audit Committee Financial Expert . The Board affirms her independence under NYSE rules .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) | Board Chair | 2009–2016 | Led U.S. credit union regulatory oversight; crisis-era governance |
| Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) | Voting Member | 2010–2016 | Systemic risk coordination across U.S. regulators |
| Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) | Chair | 2011–2013 | Interagency supervision and examination standards |
| Mutual of Omaha Bank | Director | 2016–2019 | Bank governance and oversight |
| elphi | Board of Advisors | 2019–present | Mortgage tech process streamlining |
| RenoFi | Advisor | 2020–2023 | Consumer reno loans based on post-renovation value |
| U.S. Capitol Hill (Joint Economic Committee) | Economist | 1977–1989 | Economic policy analysis |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Company Boards | None | — | No current public company directorships |
| Mutual of Omaha Bank | Director | 2016–2019 | Prior non-public board service |
| elphi | Board of Advisors | 2019–present | Fintech advisory |
| RenoFi | Advisor | 2020–2023 | Fintech advisory |
Board Governance
- Committees: Audit; Nominating & Corporate Governance; Audit Committee Financial Expert designation .
- Independence: Board deems Matz independent; all key board committees are fully independent .
- Meetings and attendance: Board held 7 meetings in 2024; Audit 8; Nominating 4. No director attended less than 75% of aggregate Board/committee meetings; all except one director attended the 2024 annual meeting (names not disclosed) .
- Structure: Independent Chairman separate from CEO; annual director elections; majority voting in uncontested elections; non‑management directors meet after each regular Board meeting .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Board cash retainer | $85,000 | Standard non-management director cash retainer |
| Committee member fee – Audit | $15,000 | Member retainer (not chair) |
| Committee member fee – Nominating & Corporate Governance | $7,500 | Member retainer (not chair) |
| Total cash fees earned | $107,500 | Sum of cash retainers |
| All other compensation | $5,000 | Director charitable matching gift program |
| Total director compensation (cash + equity) | $197,500 | See equity below |
Performance Compensation
| Metric | 2024 Value/Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual stock award (unrestricted) | $85,000 | Valued at market close on May 8, 2024 |
| Equity form | Unrestricted common stock | Standard for non-management directors |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 5× stock portion of annual retainer | Five-year compliance window |
| Guideline compliance (Board-wide) | 9 of 10 directors exceed guideline | One director within acquisition period; name not disclosed |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Prohibited | Anti-hedging and anti-pledging for directors |
STC does not tie director equity to performance metrics; equity is granted as unrestricted stock with strong ownership guidelines and anti-hedging/pledging controls .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Role | Years | Interlock Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual of Omaha Bank | Director | 2016–2019 | Robert L. Clarke also served as Director (2016–2019), indicating a historical interlock with a current STC director |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Regulatory oversight and risk management; NCUA Chair, FSOC voting member, FFIEC Chair .
- Financial literacy and Audit Committee Financial Expert designation; Audit Committee member .
- Public policy and economic analysis background (Joint Economic Committee economist) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Ownership % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deborah J. Matz | 8,072 | <1% | As of March 11, 2025; excludes unvested awards |
- Director ownership guidelines: 5× stock portion of annual retainer; Board reports 9/10 directors meet/exceed guidelines (individual compliance not explicitly identified) .
- Hedging, short sales, margin accounts, and pledging of Company securities prohibited for directors .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths:
- Independence, Audit Committee Financial Expert, and service on core governance committees enhance board effectiveness and financial oversight .
- Strong director ownership guidelines with broad compliance; anti-hedging/pledging policy supports alignment with shareholders .
- Attendance thresholds met at Board/committee level; robust committee cadence (Audit 8; Nominating 4) .
- Potential watch items:
- Historical interlock with Robert L. Clarke at Mutual of Omaha Bank (2016–2019) — no current related‑party transaction disclosed, but relevant for network analysis .
- No related-party transactions disclosed for Matz; “Certain Transactions” section lists other individuals, not Matz .
- Shareholder sentiment context:
- 2024 Say‑on‑Pay approval at 97.6% suggests broad investor confidence in STC’s compensation governance framework (executive pay), indirectly supportive of board oversight credibility .
Director Compensation Summary (2024)
| Item | Cash | Stock | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deborah J. Matz | $107,500 | $85,000 | $5,000 | $197,500 |
Board Engagement Indicators
- Non-management director sessions after each regular Board meeting; Chairman presides .
- No director fell below 75% attendance across Board/committee meetings in 2024; annual meeting attendance strong (all but one director) .
Related-Party & Compliance Checks
- Related-party: No transactions involving Matz disclosed in 2024; other transactions involve different directors/executives (e.g., Apel/Adfitech; Lessack family; Bryant lease) .
- Section 16: Company reports all directors/officers met filing requirements in 2024 except one executive (not Matz) .
Implications for Investors
- Matz’s regulatory pedigree and Audit Committee expertise are positives for risk oversight and financial integrity.
- Ownership guidelines and anti-hedging/pledging bolster alignment; combined with independent committee structure, this supports investor confidence in governance quality .