Brian Woods-Scawen was yesterday named as chairman of the West Bromwich Building Society following the death last month of Roger Dickens.

The 59-year-old accountant joined the West Brom board as a non-executive director in January, 2004.

"His appointment as chairman is recognition of the impact and positive contribution he has already made to the progress of this leading mutual," the country's ninth largest building society said.

Mr Woods-Scawen was previously chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Midlands and a member of the accountancy firm's global board.

He has been closely associated with the economic and social regeneration of the West Midlands in recent years.

In his professional capacity he was involved in many of the region's largest and most complex corporate deals, including the 1993 management buyout of LDV and the expansion of Birmingham International Airport.

In 2004 he was appointed to the committee on standards in public life and is also an independent member of the executive board of the Department of Trade and Industry as well as a member of the council of Warwick University.

He said: "I am honoured to succeed such a superb chairman as Roger Dickens. His inspiration and stature made him a tremendous force for the society where he presided over a period of outstanding progress.

"I will be leading an extremely talented and experienced board which is committed to continuing to delivering a major contribution to the economic life of the West Midlands and exceptional value to our members."

West Brom chief executive Andrew Messenger said: "We have, in Brian, a high profile individual, greatly respected within the business community, who shares the ideals that we value so much at the West Brom.

"He has already made an exceptional contribution to the Society and I look forward to working closely with him."