Kevin Cuff, executive director of the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association, will be leaving the industry group at the end of the year when his contract expires, MMBA confirmed to Banker & Tradesman.

Keith Andre, chairman of the MMBA, said Cuff’s decision to depart was amicable.

"Kevin and I are good friends, and we had chatted about this [possibility] probably a year ago, and then [the board] sat down about month ago," said Andre.

When discussing his departure with the board, Cuff said he felt that "I’ve completed, to the best that I believe I can, my duties here, and it’s time for me, after nine years, to move along and do something else."

Andre said the group was not planning to use a search firm for finding Cuff’s replacement, adding that the group had already received several calls from candidates. MMBA will not be accepting resumes until the official announcement planned for later this month, according to Andre.

Looking forward, Andre said, "We really need somebody that has mortgage banking experience, as opposed to just banking experience."

With all the changes in the industry over the past several years, Andre said, the group needs an executive who can both manage the growing need for continuing professional education services the group provides and navigate Beacon Hill.

Cuff is currently seeking other opportunities. He said he would like to stay within the financial services sector, but is open to new opportunities.

"I’m looking at everything," Cuff told Banker & Tradesman. "An injury could go down in center field at Fenway Park, and they might need a 46 year-old-center fielder. That could be me."