Wendy Lee, 41, brings considerable experience to the role, which is a Board-level position. She joins the Society from Legal & General where she was sales development director managing part of their independent financial adviser business.
Prior to this she was with Norwich Union for 15 years, working in all areas of distribution and sales before becoming director of strategic partnerships, developing relationships with high profile organisations such as Tesco and 14 different building societies.
Commenting on her appointment she said: "Financial service providers face challenges and opportunities in equal measure as they respond to testing economic conditions, new regulations and modern lifestyles that require greater flexibility and innovation from products and services. Newcastle Building Society is meeting these challenges head on, and I am extremely excited to be on the management team.
"As commercial director I am responsible for developing all sales and marketing activity within the branch network, the call centre and the Society's commercial lending operation."
Robert Hollinshead, the chief executive at Newcastle Building Society, added: "With more than 800 staff we are a strong and growing business. Wendy's experience and industry knowledge will be invaluable in taking this development forward. I'm therefore delighted to welcome her to the Society and to the Board."
Wendy is moving to the region from York with her partner. Away from work she is a keen runner and is determined to take part in the Great North Run within the next few years.
Newcastle Building Society is the largest building society based in the North-East, and one of the strongest mutuals in the UK. It has 52 branches in the UK and Gibraltar and assets under management in excess of £3.3 billion.
