Jeremy Duncombe’s Mortgage Mentors podcast series has reached its first anniversary, marking 12 months of interviews designed to inspire brokers through the real-world experiences of senior figures from across the mortgage and property finance industry.
Launched to challenge assumptions about what leadership in financial services looks like, the series has focused on the varied and often unconventional routes taken by individuals who now occupy influential roles across intermediary networks, lenders, trade bodies and the specialist press.
Guests to date have included Ben Thompson, Esther Dijkstra, Danielle Moore, Stephanie Charman, Martin Reynolds, Louisa Sedgwick, James Tucker, Nicola Alvarez, Sidney Wager, Dev Malle, Clare Beardmore and Richard Merrett, with further episodes planned.
The anniversary edition, released today, takes a different approach. Ben Thompson, director of home moving strategy at the mortgage advice bureau, who featured in the first episode of the series, returns to interview Duncombe (pictured) himself.
The discussion reflects on Duncombe’s near four-decade career in financial services, which began at Halifax when he was 18 and later included roles in broking and lending, before his appointment as managing director of Accord Mortgages.
The episode also covers Duncombe’s involvement in building the Accord brand and the launch of its Growth Series, which provides free resources and insight for intermediaries. His contribution to industry bodies including the intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association and the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is also explored.
During the conversation, Thompson asks what has driven Duncombe throughout his career. He points to a people-first approach, the importance of developing talent and the value of building strong support networks across the industry.
Duncombe also reflects on early turning points in his career, including what he describes as a ‘sliding doors moment’ that helped shape his long-term direction within financial services.
A longstanding advocate for the broker sector, he explains how experience across broking, lending and distribution has given him a broad, joined-up view of the market and helped define Accord’s position as a specialist intermediary lender.
Duncombe said: “The Mortgage Mentors series came about from discussions I had with colleagues about social mobility – lots of people have taken unconventional routes to forge a path into senior roles – and many of those I’ve interviewed in this series have got to where they are via unusual routes.
“The series was designed to show that you can come from any background and succeed in the industry with the right drive and support.”
