Manolo Sánchez
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICESAbout Manolo Sánchez
Independent director with 27+ years in banking across the U.S., Mexico, France, and Spain; age 59; director since 2019. Former Chairman and CEO of BBVA Compass Bank (2008–2017) and adjunct professor at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business (2018–present), with executive roles spanning risk management, real estate, and corporate/investment banking . He is classified as independent under NYSE standards and serves on two board committees, including as an Audit Committee financial expert .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBVA Compass Bank | Chairman & Chief Executive Officer | 2008–2017 | Led a large U.S. bank; deep regulatory and risk management experience |
| Rice University (Jones Graduate School of Business) | Adjunct Professor | 2018–present | Academic engagement; governance and risk expertise |
| American Bankers Association | Director | 2015–2017 | Industry oversight and policy engagement |
| Institute of International Bankers | Director | 2015–2017 | International banking policy and governance |
| Greater Houston Partnership | Director | 2015–2017 | Regional economic development involvement |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFRM) | Director | 2023–present | Not disclosed |
| Fannie Mae (NASDAQ: FNMA) | Director | 2018–present | Not disclosed |
| Elevate Credit, Inc. (NYSE: ELVT) | Director | 2021–2023 | Not disclosed |
| OnDeck Capital, Inc. (NYSE: ONDK) | Director | 2018–2021 | Not disclosed |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee member; designated “audit committee financial expert” by the Board .
- Independence: Board determined he has no material relationships impairing independence; majority of the Board is independent and all three key committees are fully independent .
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, the Board met 7 times (plus 7 consents); Audit met 8 times; Nominating & Corporate Governance met 4 times. No director attended less than 75% of aggregate Board/committee meetings; non‑management directors hold sessions after each regular Board meeting .
- Chair roles: Not a committee chair; the Company has an independent Chairman separate from the CEO .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board cash retainer | $85,000 | Standard non‑management director cash retainer |
| Audit Committee member retainer | $15,000 | Member fee (Chair fee is $35,000; Sánchez is a member) |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee member retainer | $7,500 | Member fee (Chair fee is $17,500; Sánchez is a member) |
| Total cash fees reported | $107,500 | Matches component sums above |
| Board stock retainer (unrestricted stock) | $85,000 | Standard stock grant; directors may elect all fees in stock |
| All other compensation (charitable matching) | $5,000 | Board charitable matching program |
| Total director compensation | $197,500 | Fees + stock + other |
Performance Compensation
| Performance-linked element | Structure | 2024 Details |
|---|---|---|
| None disclosed for directors | Director comp is cash retainers and unrestricted stock; no performance metrics, options, or meeting fees are indicated for directors | Director program components and amounts disclosed; no performance vesting for director equity |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Potential Interlock Area | Observation |
|---|---|
| Mortgage/consumer finance adjacency | Fannie Mae (mortgage GSE) and Affirm (consumer BNPL) are adjacent to real estate finance; could enhance oversight of market/credit risk relevant to STC’s title ecosystem. No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Sánchez; related‑party transactions require Audit Committee approval under the Company’s Codes . |
| Audit committee load | Company states no Audit Committee member serves on >3 public company audit committees; Sánchez is compliant per Board disclosure . |
| Board service limits | Guidelines discourage serving on >3 other entity boards absent special circumstances; Sánchez’s current public boards (AFRM, FNMA) are under this threshold . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Designated Audit Committee financial expert; financial literacy affirmed by the Board .
- 27+ years of banking leadership across multiple geographies; executive roles in risk management, real estate, correspondent, community, corporate and investment banking .
- Academic governance exposure (adjunct professor), plus experience with industry associations (ABA, IIB) .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common stock) | 10,099 shares | As of March 11, 2025; less than 1% of shares outstanding |
| Director ownership guidelines | 5x the stock portion of annual director retainer | Five‑year compliance window; nine of ten directors currently exceed the guideline; one is still within the acquisition period |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Prohibited | Company prohibits hedging, short sales, options in Company stock, margin accounts, and pledging; pre‑clearance and blackout periods apply |
| Section 16 compliance | No delinquent filings indicated for Sánchez | Company notes one late filing by another officer; otherwise compliant in 2024 |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director; dual committee service on Audit and Nominating & Corporate Governance; designated audit committee financial expert; strong banking and risk background; Board/committee independence; robust anti‑hedging/pledging policies; director stock ownership guidelines; Board majority voting and declassified structure .
- Engagement: No director fell below 75% attendance in 2024; multiple committee meetings indicate active oversight; non‑management director sessions after each regular Board meeting .
- Compensation alignment: Mixed cash/equity with the option to take retainers in stock supports alignment; no performance‑linked director equity reduces incentive for short‑term risk taking .
- Conflicts and related parties: No Sánchez‑related party transactions disclosed; Company requires Audit Committee review/approval for related‑party transactions and sets strict conflict policies .
- Risk indicators: Audit Committee workload monitored (no member >3 audit committees); director board‑service limits in guidelines; Section 16 compliance largely on time (no issues cited for Sánchez) .