Adam Bennett is to join the Newcastle Building Society’s board as a non-executive director.

Bennett (pictured) has over 30 years’ experience in law, specialising in advising building societies and other financial mutuals on corporate, constitutional, governance and regulatory issues.

He spent 36 years at Addleshaw Goddard where he led the practice’s financial mutuals department. He has advised on Rules of Building Societies, including advice to the Building Societies Association on the last major rewrite of the BSA Model Rules for Building Societies.

He has also advised on corporate governance, including compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the powers and statutory and fiduciary duties of directors.

Bennett will also join the Society’s Group Risk Committee.

He said: “With such an extensive knowledge of the building society sector, I’m pleased to be working with Newcastle Building Society during this exciting time of growth and investment into their business, colleagues and local communities.”

Phil Moorhouse, Newcastle Building Society’s chairman, added: “Adam brings significant building society experience and law expertise to our board as a non-executive director.

“His passion for the mutual sector matches our own and we’re pleased to welcome him to the Society to help us deliver on our commitments and ambitions as the North East’s largest building society.”