United Trust Bank managing director for mortgages and bridging Robert Owen has announced plans to retire at the end of the year after four decades in the industry.

He will be stepping back from day-to-day responsibilities at the start of June in order to support chief commercial officer, Mark Stokes, in an advisory role and work on several projects including further developing UTB’s mortgage proposition.

Following Owen’s retirement, Buster Tolfree will be taking over the mortgage brief, while Gavin Diamond will cover bridging.

Owen will remain on the bank’s diversity and inclusion committee, as well as continuing his work with the Finance & Leasing Association, where he is a board director, and with the Chartered Banker Institute’s 2025 Foundation supporting young people to pursue a career in financial services.

After joining UTB in 2015, Owen oversaw the bank’s launch into specialist lending, starting with second charge mortgages and followed by first charges.

Earlier in his career, Owen founded the London Mortgage Company and held a chief executive of its parent company Matlock Bank.

He was also a divisional director at Lloyds and chairman at Al Rayan Bank.

Owen says “I have been very fortunate in my career working with wonderfully talented people.  

“No more so than at UTB.  

“Graham Davin and Harley Kagan have built a tremendous success story based on the people ethic, with the focus always on teamwork and customer service.  

“I wish them all, particularly Buster Tolfree now taking over mortgages and Gavin Diamond taking over bridging, continued success in the future.”

United Trust Bank chief executive Harley Kagan says: “Rob’s wealth of knowledge and experience was invaluable in helping us to develop and establish our successful mortgage offering and in developing the combined mortgages and bridging division. 

“Both teams are writing record levels of new business and he is handing them over in great shape. 

“We will be sorry to see Rob retire, but I’m delighted that we will continue to benefit from his advice and wisdom for at least the remainder of the year. “We are very grateful to Rob for his contribution and wish him all the very best for his retirement.”