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MBA COO Marcia Davies will retire at the end of the year

  //business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. a-davies-will-retire-at-the-end-of-the-year.html
  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, October 1st 2025 at 14:45 GMT by HousingWire

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Mortgage Bankers Association to Lose Veteran COO Marcia Davies as She Retires at Year‑End

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced on Wednesday that its Chief Operating Officer, Marcia L. Davies, will retire at the end of the calendar year. The decision marks the end of an era for the industry‑wide trade group that has been a key voice in shaping U.S. mortgage policy for decades. The MBA’s press release, which is also featured in HousingWire’s coverage, explains how Davies’ tenure—spanning more than 25 years with the MBA and an additional decade in mortgage‑related government roles—has been integral to the organization’s mission to champion the mortgage industry, support its members, and influence public policy.

A Career Built on Leadership and Advocacy

Davies joined the MBA in 1998 as a senior policy analyst. By 2005 she was promoted to Deputy Director of the policy team, where she helped draft the Association’s stance on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) mortgage‑related regulations and on the Dodd‑Frank Act’s reforms. When the MBA expanded its policy footprint in 2010, Davies became the first woman to head the policy division, a role that combined regulatory research with a hands‑on approach to member outreach.

In 2014, after the COVID‑19 pandemic threw the mortgage market into disarray, Davies was promoted to COO. “Marcia has been a steady hand during some of the toughest moments the industry has faced,” said MBA President and CEO Bill S. B. The announcement notes that she was instrumental in launching the MBA’s “Mortgage Relief Initiative,” which coordinated with state agencies and lender groups to streamline the distribution of the CARES Act’s mortgage‑forgiveness programs. The initiative helped over 2.8 million homeowners avoid default, according to MBA data.

Driving Innovation and Inclusion

Beyond crisis management, Davies steered the MBA’s technology strategy. The 2018 “Tech‑Ready MBA” program—initiated under her guidance—created a digital hub for lenders to access market analytics, policy updates, and training modules. The platform, now used by more than 6,000 member institutions, has been credited with cutting research turnaround time by 40 %.

Davies also championed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the mortgage industry. In 2020, she launched the MBA’s “Diverse Mortgage Workforce Initiative,” which partnered with community colleges and minority‑owned small lenders to increase hiring of underrepresented professionals. The initiative has expanded over the past three years, contributing to a 15 % rise in minority‑owned mortgage companies among MBA’s membership base.

Industry‑Wide Impact

HousingWire’s piece highlights how Davies’ leadership extended beyond MBA borders. She served on the CFPB’s Advisory Committee for Mortgage Regulation, and her testimony helped shape the agency’s “Mortgage Compliance” guidance issued in 2021. Her role as a liaison between the industry and policymakers is echoed by a quote from the CFPB’s former commissioner, who said, “Marcia’s balanced perspective—rooted in on‑the‑ground lender experience and a firm grasp of regulatory frameworks—made her an indispensable partner.”

The article also references the MBA’s ongoing “Mortgage Industry Outlook 2024,” a quarterly research report that Davies helped compile. According to the report, the U.S. mortgage market is projected to grow 5.3 % in 2024, driven by a rebound in refinances and a steady rise in new home sales. The report, which incorporates data from the Federal Reserve and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, underscores how the MBA’s research informs both members and policymakers.

Transition and Succession

The press release and HousingWire coverage note that the MBA is already in the process of selecting a successor. While the organization has not yet announced a name, it revealed that the incoming COO will likely be drawn from the MBA’s senior operations team, ensuring continuity of the initiatives that Davies has championed. “We are confident that our current leadership is well positioned to carry forward the momentum we have built,” said Bill S. B. “Marcia’s legacy will be the foundation on which we will continue to grow.”

Davies will remain on staff through the end of the year, helping to transition key projects to her replacement. She also announced that she will be joining the board of a nonprofit that focuses on financial literacy for low‑income families, a move that underscores her long‑standing commitment to community outreach.

A Legacy of Service

HousingWire’s article concludes by reflecting on Davies’ broader impact. It quotes several senior mortgage bankers who describe her as “a champion for the industry, a bridge between lenders and regulators, and a visionary who never lost sight of the human side of mortgage finance.” A photo gallery accompanying the story shows Davies at several high‑profile events: the 2022 Mortgage Industry Conference in Washington, D.C., the 2021 annual MBA policy forum in New York, and the 2023 virtual summit on sustainable mortgage practices.

In sum, the MBA’s announcement of Marcia Davies’ retirement is more than a personnel update—it signals a pivotal moment for an organization that has played a central role in navigating the U.S. mortgage market through regulatory upheaval, technological transformation, and a global pandemic. Her departure will undoubtedly be felt across the industry, but the robust systems she built and the forward‑thinking policies she helped advance will continue to shape the mortgage landscape for years to come.

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