She joins from Lloyds Banking Group, where she was most recently head of mortgages, and brings 25 years of experience to the role. Bryden has also held senior positions at HSBC, Santander and Coventry Building Society.
She will succeed Jeremy Duncombe, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
The two will work together to ensure a smooth transition before Duncombe leaves the business at the end of the year.
Yorkshire Building Society, parent company of Accord Mortgages, recently announced changes to its homes division, resulting in the creation of Bryden’s role as director of distribution.
Tom Simpson, managing director of homes at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “Accord has built a strong reputation as a broker-focused brand, known for the expertise of its people, the accessibility of its underwriters and its willingness to assess individual cases on their merits.
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“Attracting a leader of Amanda’s standing and experience is a clear statement of our intent. She will build on the strong foundations created by Jeremy and the Accord team, bringing deep intermediary experience and a clear mandate to grow while remaining true to what brokers value most.”
He said Accord would maintain its common-sense underwriting combined with human judgement, with better tools to “provide faster, more responsive service and relevant residential and buy-to-let propositions”.
Simpson added: “I would also like to recognise Jeremy’s exceptional contribution. His continued support until the end of the year will provide continuity and ensure a smooth and orderly transition.”
Simon Watson, chief customer officer at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “This investment in Accord’s leadership is a clear statement of our commitment to the intermediary market.
“We know what makes Accord distinctive: experienced people, strong broker relationships, accessible underwriters and common-sense underwriting. We intend to protect and strengthen those qualities while making it even easier for brokers to do business with us.
“Amanda joining the homes senior leadership team brings considerable intermediary experience into the heart of our mortgage business. Working with Tom and the wider team, she will have a clear mandate to build on Accord’s strengths, accelerate its growth and ensure it plays an even greater role in the society’s mortgage strategy.”
Bryden (pictured) said: “Accord has a strong identity and a trusted reputation among brokers. What stands out for me is the quality of its people, its commitment to partnership and its determination to help brokers find solutions for their clients.
“My priority will be to listen to brokers and colleagues, use their insight to identify where we can make the biggest difference, remove unnecessary friction and develop propositions that respond to customers’ changing needs.”
