Accord Mortgages has appointed Jeremy Duncombe as its new managing director from 1 January 2021.

His new position will also see Duncombe lead mortgage distribution at Yorkshire Building Society.

As well as fulfilling the role of Accord director intermediary distribution currently, Duncombe is the deputy chair of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association.

This comes after confirmation that current Accord managing director and YBS chief customer officer Charles Canning will retire in February 2021, following 33 years of employment at the society.

“[Canning] has had an immeasurable impact on our business, and contributed so much to colleagues, members, brokers and customers alike,” says YBS chief executive Mike Regnier.

“[He] has been a true champion of the customer, working tirelessly to improve our offering to the market and place customers at the centre of what we do,” he says.

Canning adds: “I have had an amazing career at YBS and it has been a pleasure to lead teams across the society and at Accord. I have always been particularly passionate about enhancing the customer journey and experience, and I am confident that our future set up is the right way to maintain and increase that focus.”

And Duncombe comments: “I am delighted to be leading Accord into its next chapter, further enhancing the broker experience and adding value to the intermediary market, and I’d like to add my congratulations and best wishes to [Charles] Canning, and thank him for his fantastic support.

“We have ambitious plans to take Accord to the next level in 2021 and to be able to combine this with boosting customer experience across mortgage distribution is truly exciting. We have the opportunity to develop a much stronger and focused offering right across the market, which will only serve to benefit our customers.”