Hanley Economic Building Society appoints Samantha Ward as Commercial Director

20 May 2025

Hanley Economic Building Society has announced the appointment of Samantha Ward to the newly created role of Commercial Director.

Samantha brings nearly 25 years of experience in financial services, primarily within the mutual sector. Her extensive background includes senior roles at Dudley Building Society, where she served as Head of Lending, Head of Commercial, and Commercial Director. Most recently, Samantha was at LiveMore Capital, where she latterly held the position of Head of Proposition, Strategy, and Development.

In her new position at Hanley Economic Building Society, Samantha 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.

Founded in 1854, Hanley Economic is one of Staffordshire’s leading mutual building societies. It has over 20,000 members and seven branches in Biddulph, Cheadle Hanley City Centre, Newcastle, Longton, Stone and at its Festival Park, Stoke on Trent headquarters.

Mark Selby, CEO at Hanley Economic Building Society, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome Samantha to our team. Her vast experience in the mutual sector, combined with her recent strategic work at LiveMore Capital, makes her the perfect fit for the Society. We are confident that her leadership will be instrumental in furthering our commitment to providing innovative, customer-focused solutions and extending our intermediary partnerships.”

Samantha Ward, Commercial Director at Hanley Economic Building Society added:

“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. I look forward to working with the talented team at Hanley to further enhance our extensive offering and maintain our positive growth trajectory.”