Darlington Building Society has announced the appointment of a new chief executive.
Subject to approval by the regulators, Alex Windle will take over as CEO in April next year when Andrew Craddock steps down after seven years.
Alex's career spans three decades and he previously served as chief customer officer at West Brom Building Society.
Following an early career in commercial, marketing and strategy roles at Vodafone, he served as UK marketing director, first at LG Electronics and then BP.
That led to him becoming BP’s global retail product director, leading worldwide marketing and digital strategy, and product management.
Eager to spend more time in the UK with his family, Alex joined financial services in 2016 as part of Cumberland Building Society, later becoming chief customer officer and then chief transformation officer.
He has been serving as chief customer oficer of West Brom Building Society since May 2023, with a remit encompassing all customer and commercial activities, including product, marketing, sales and distribution, customer service and experience, corporate strategy, and environmental, social and governance (ESG).
Rachel Court, chair of Darlington Building Society, said: “The Society has achieved fantastic results over the last few years, thanks in large part to Andrew’s exceptional leadership.
“The recent milestones of reaching £1bn in asset size and donating a cumulative £1m from the Society’s profits to local community causes under our 5% pledge are a real testament to his success.
“Whilst Andrew will remain at the helm until the next annual general meeting in April, I look forward to welcoming Alex as our new CEO in what will be the Society’s 170th year.
“Alex is an inspirational leader with a wealth of experience in leading the customer and commercial agendas in successful Societies, and his experience suits him ideally to leading the Darlington into the next phase of our strategic development.”
Alex said: “I am thrilled to be joining a business that is so strong and well positioned in the North East, where it has built an enviable reputation for great customer care, being a first-class employer, and for its support of local communities.
“Looking forward, it is vital that we offer our customers choice in the ways they want to be served. I am committed to giving customers choice, and I look forward to working with the team to build on the strong physical presence the Society has in the region, while capitalising on the recent investment in technology to develop a bigger and more meaningful digital service.
“Darlington Building Society has been a force for good for almost 170 years and my aim is to build on the strong foundations that have been laid, so that we can help more people achieve their dream of home ownership and save for the future.”
