Dudley Building Society has promoted Samantha Ward to its main board as commercial director.

Ward (pictured) will be responsible for the P&L across the society, product development, marketing and the business development proposition.

She was previously head of commercial at the society when she was responsible for the development of new residential mortgage business, marketing and growth strategy.

Ward joined from school in 2001 and graduated from the society’s executive development programme.

The programme was introduced by chief executive Jeremy Wood when he joined in 2012 as part of an overhaul of employee development.

Wood says: “We are delighted to welcome Sam to the Dudley Board, a promotion which is richly deserved. I have no doubt that Sam would have succeeded in any environment, but she has shown conclusively that every school leaver can succeed given the right environment and support, which is what we have built at DBS.

“The Development Programme has been a factor in Sam’s career success, but much of the credit is hers as she has applied herself diligently to each of the roles to which she has been assigned since she joined while also finding time to graduate in Banking Practice and Financial Services Management. I am in no doubt that Sam’s appointment, with her intimate knowledge of the Society, will prove to be a great success and we wish her the best of luck.”

Ward says: “I would like to think that my promotion will not only encourage my colleagues in the society but also serve to illustrate that anyone with drive and a strong work ethic can make a success of their career. Of course, I have been fortunate in the support I have received from within the business in helping me develop my skills and knowledge, but as I have proved, there is no barrier to anyone wanting to go far in the world.”