EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected to clarify that new Chairman G. Christopher Colville replaces John Nickoll, not Craig Noell.

Signature Group Holdings Inc., the Sherman Oaks investment company that last month fought off a proxy battle by its largest single shareholder, on Wednesday said that one of its two new directors had been named chairman.

G. Christopher Colville replaces John Nickoll, who had served as non-executive chairman since the former Santa Monica subprime lending giant Fremont General Corp was reorganized into Signature Group in June, 2010.

Signature, which last week reported a smaller second quarter loss, also announced that Signature Chief Executive Craig Noell has added the title of president.

Fremont emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization and renamed itself after Noell and his partners struck a deal with investors and creditors.