Our spokespeople information | Media Centre | YBS
Having our say on the latest hot topics
Yorkshire Building Society can provide expert commentary and opinion on a wide range of personal finance, economic and building society sector topics. All the below spokespeople can be contacted via the Media Relations team on pressoffice@ybs.co.uk*.
Introducing our spokespeople
Susan Allen
Chief Executive
She has more than 25 years' experience in financial services having held senior executive positions at a number of large retail banks in the UK.
She has previously been responsible for leading and supporting colleagues in frontline teams to deliver a differentiated customer experience, and supported millions of customers with a nationwide network of branches and customer contact centres.
Susan is also a former Board member of UK Finance.
Jeremy Duncombe
Director of Mortgage Distribution and Managing Director at Accord Mortgages, our intermediary lender
Jeremy has been with the Society since March 2018, having worked in the mortgage market for over 20 years. He has worked in senior management roles for several lenders and distributers, and has also worked as an advisor and a broker. Prior to joining the Yorkshire he was Director of Legal & General Mortgage Club.
Jeremy is responsible for the external delivery of the Society’s mortgage propositions and is available for comment on a number of topics across the housing market, including residential and buy-to-let mortgages, service and distribution. He is also Chair of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA), the trade association that represents the views and interests of UK mortgage lenders involved in the generation of mortgage business via professional financial intermediaries.
Tom Simpson
Managing Director of YBS Commercial Mortgages
Tom has held his current position since June 2019, where he led the launch of the business and its subsequent expansion. Tom has a wealth of experience in Financial Services which also includes over a decade in senior Risk roles prior to taking up the helm in his current role.
His focus is firmly set on ensuring that the strategic direction for YBS Commercial Mortgages is aligned through every touch point to best serve customer and broker needs.
Tom is available for comment on a number of topics, including corporate and specialist buy-to-let, and the commercial investment market.
Ben Merritt
Director of Mortgages
Ben has been with the Society since 2010, having first started out as a branch manager in the Society’s network. He now prices mortgage ranges for all our brands, and aims to deliver a range of options to help people get, and keep, a place to call home. He was appointed Director of Mortgages in January 2022.
He is a mortgage expert, committed to doing the best for customers with award-winning products, and is available to comment on a number of opportunities relating to the mortgage market, particularly first-time buyers and those with smaller deposits.
Chris Irwin
Director of Savings
Chris has worked in financial services for over 18 years. Joining YBS in 2012 undertaking various roles including Director of Mortgages before being appointed Director of Savings in January 2022.
He is an expert in his field, passionate about making things easy and simple for our customers as well as delivering long term value. Chris is available to comment on a number of opportunities relating to the savings market, product insight as well as anything relating to financial wellbeing.
Tina Hughes
Director of Marketing, Digital and External Affairs
Tina has worked in financial services for more than 20 years in various organisations. She joined Yorkshire Building Society in 2018 and became Director of Savings in May 2020 and was then appointed Director of Marketing, Digital and External Affairs in January 2022.
She is a consumer advocate and passionate about delivering relevant products and services to help people save for their futures and own their own homes.
Max Shepherd
Group Economist
Max joined Yorkshire Building Society in 2023 as Group Economist, responsible for economic forecasting and commentary.
Before that he worked for Skipton Building Society in various Treasury roles, lastly in wholesale funding. He is a graduate in Finance and Economics and has a chartered accountancy qualification.
Max is available to comment on anything relating to the economy or wider markets.