First American Financial Corp. CEO Ken DeGiorgio was fired from the company after he allegedly tussled with a fellow passenger while on a Caribbean cruise. The dismissal was disclosed Tuesday in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The company separately announced Tuesday that it has promoted Chief Financial Officer Mark Seaton to CEO.

DeGiorgio was arrested by the FBI on April 3 in Puerto Rico for allegedly choking a fellow passenger on a cruise ship following a dispute with DeGiorgio’s wife. DeGiorgio’s wife, Nichol, asked a cruise passenger who was dancing barefoot to put his shoes on, to which he responded with a crude comment and gesture, according to an FBI affidavit. Surveillance footage then showed DeGiorgio placing his hands around the man’s neck, according to the affidavit.

DeGiorgio was confined to his cabin by the ship’s captain following the alleged attack and was then arrested when the cruise ship arrived at San Juan, its next scheduled port of call, the affidavit stated.

First American provides title insurance and settlement services to the mortgage and real estate industries. DeGiorgio joined the company in 1999. He was named president in 2021 and was promoted to CEO in 2022.

Seaton, the incoming CEO, has been with First American since 2006 and served as director of investor relations until 2010. He was promoted to CFO in 2013.

“We are looking forward to our next chapter under the strong leadership of Mark Seaton,” stated Dennis Gilmore, First American’s executive chairman, in a press release. “No one is more ready to be our CEO than Mark, who has played a leading role in our most critical strategic initiatives, which are driving the digital transformation of our business. We want to thank Ken DeGiorgio for his many years of service to First American.”