Jeremy Duncombe is to retire from Yorkshire Building Society after supporting a transition that will see the mutual reorganise its homes division and create a new distribution role.
Duncombe (pictured), managing director of Accord Mortgages, will retire once the transition is complete to consider portfolio opportunities, following a career spanning almost 40 years.
He has spent eight years as managing director of Accord, during which Yorkshire Building Society said he had played a pivotal role in developing the lender into a respected intermediary brand.
Duncombe has also contributed to the wider mortgage sector through his involvement with industry bodies including the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association and the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries.
FUTURE GROWTH
The retirement comes as Yorkshire Building Society reorganises its homes division, bringing together residential, buy-to-let and commercial lending under what it described as a simpler operating model.
The society said the changes were designed to support future growth and improve service for customers and brokers.
It is also creating a new director of distribution role, which will be responsible for strategic partnerships and broker relationships through Accord Mortgages and YBS Commercial Mortgages, as well as direct advised customers.
The role will sit alongside senior leaders for residential, buy-to-let and commercial lending, with Angela Norman continuing to lead commercial lending.
Tom Simpson, managing director of homes, will lead the homes division.
In 2025, Yorkshire Building Society provided 38,400 new residential mortgages. Mortgage balances grew by 4.4% to £51.9bn, while gross lending increased to £9.9bn.
Simpson said: “During his eight years as Managing Director, Jeremy has taken Accord from strength to strength and been a passionate advocate for the broker community. I thank him for his commitment, leadership and dedication to the Society and the intermediary sector.”
Duncombe said: “It’s been a real privilege to lead Accord and work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues, fantastic brokers and strategic partners. These changes will further enhance how we support the intermediary market and I’m pleased to help a transition that positions Accord strongly for the future.”
“Our purpose underpins everything we do.”
Simpson added: “We recently sharpened our purpose – Real Help with Real Life – which means members coming together to make good homes possible for more people.
“Our purpose underpins everything we do. We understand the difference a good home can make to people’s wealth and wellbeing.
“We are proud of the service we already provide to brokers and customers. These changes are about building on our strengths and ensuring we are well-set to support brokers and customers now and in the future.
“Helping more people into good homes means recognising how the mortgage market is changing. Alongside familiar barriers like high house prices and cost-of-living pressures, we are seeing more complex borrower circumstances, income sources and lending needs.
“Buying a home is not straightforward and it’s one of the most important life decisions we make, both personally and financially.
“All this means good advice is crucial. Brokers play a vital role, and we want to make it as easy as possible for them and customers to make the right decisions, while providing the best service we can.”