Hanley Economic Building Society has confirmed the appointment of Samantha Ward to the newly-created position of commercial director.

Ward has worked nearly 25 years in financial services, primarily within the mutual sector. This includes senior roles at Dudley Building Society, where she served as head of lending, head of commercial, and commercial director.

Most recently, Ward was at LiveMore Capital, where she served as head of proposition, strategy, and development.

In her new role  at Hanley Economic, Ward will drive commercial leadership across the business, overseeing marketing, products and sales. She will focus on strengthening the Society’s strategy and forging relationships across the intermediary market.

Commenting on her appointment Ward said: “It’s great to be back in the mutual sector, where we can genuinely make a difference to people’s lives. I’m passionate about developing products and services that provide tailored, innovative solutions for those with specific financial needs, while actively supporting community-led initiatives.”