Dudley Building Society appoints Chief Growth Officer

Dudley Building Society has announced the appointment of Helen Smith as Chief Growth Officer, as part of its ongoing focus on growing the Society, strengthening customer outcomes, supporting its communities, and developing its people.

Smith joined the Society in April and brings extensive board-level experience across financial services, insurance, healthcare and funeral care. She has held senior roles at organisations including Benenden Health and Co-op Funeralcare and Life Services, where she led large, cross-functional teams and delivered wide-ranging business transformation programmes.

In her new role, Smith will be responsible for shaping and delivering Dudley Building Society’s growth strategy across technology, customer and intermediary channels. This will include overseeing brand and proposition development, improving how the Society attracts and supports customers, developing its technology strategy and ensuring its lending and savings offering continues to reflect changing customer needs.

Robert Oliver, Distribution Director at Dudley Building Society, said, “Growth for us is not just about volume, it’s about how we deliver for the people who rely on us. That means improving the experience for our customers and intermediaries, supporting the communities we serve, and making sure we are acting responsibly in how we operate, including our approach to the environment.

“Helen brings a strong track record of leading change across complex organisations, but just as importantly, she understands how to connect commercial decisions with real outcomes for customers and colleagues. Her appointment strengthens our ability to move forward in a way that is considered, consistent and built around long-term value.”