Last checked at 9 Dec 2009 07:19
09th December 2009
NEWCASTLE BUILDING SOCIETY APPOINTS DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Newcastle Building Society has announced it has appointed Jim Willens as Deputy Chief Executive, with effect from 4th January 2010.
Mr Willens will work alongside Newcastle's Chief Executive, Colin Seccombe, and will take up the CEO position upon Mr Seccombe's retirement during March 2010.
Mr Willens joins with over 30 years of building society and financial services experience. Working at Nationwide Building Society, he held a range of key roles including Group Services Director and Retail Operations Director as Main Board positions, between 1978 and 2006.
He was also Managing Director for Nationwide Life and Nationwide Unit Trust Managers. Following a year as Director of Wealth Management for a major Scottish legal, financial and property specialist, Mr Willens joined the Dunfermline Building Society's Board in late 2008, and was Chief Executive from the beginning of 2009.
Welcoming the appointment, Newcastle Building Society's Chairman, Chris Hilton, said: "We are delighted that Jim has joined us and we look forward to him contributing to the ongoing successful strategy of the Society. He has an excellent track record and impressive career and we are confident that his appointment will ensure continued growth of the Newcastle as the biggest mutual building society in the North East."
Jim Willens comments: "I am proud to be joining Newcastle Building Society, which I view as one of the UK's most distinctive building societies. I relish the new opportunities this will bring and look forward to working alongside Colin Seccombe until his retirement next year."
Chief Executive, Colin Seccombe said: "We are very pleased that Jim has decided to join us. We believe that his breadth of experience makes him an outstanding future leader for Newcastle Building Society."
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Natalie Falkous / Richard Hall
Newcastle Building Society
0191 244 2024 / 0191 244 1522
natalie.falkous@newcastle.co.uk/richard.hall@newcastle.co.uk
Emma Bowden
The Wriglesworth Consultancy - national/trade press
0207 427 1400 / 07841 824 764
e.bowden@wriglesworth.com
Julian Christopher
Footprint Public Relations - North East press
07891 005 034
julianchristopher@btinternet.com
About Newcastle Building Society
Newcastle Building Society is the biggest building society based in the North East and one of the strongest mutual building societies in the country. With assets under management of over £4.5bn we are certainly large enough to cope but small enough to care deeply about the needs of our members. We are committed to providing a range of innovative and attractive products and services.
www.newcastle.co.uk
The Newcastle Building Society is committed to remaining mutual and by doing so we feel we are better placed to continue to provide our investors with the quality of service expected from one of the country's strongest building societies.