Sheila, who began her career as a lawyer, worked in legal private practice for 23 years, and was a partner at Shepherd & Wedderburn for 12 years, will join the Scottish Building Society’s board from 1st November.

She said: “I am delighted to join the Scottish Building Society’s board in a non-executive role. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to the board.”

Chairman Raymond Abbott said: “We are pleased to welcome Sheila to the Board of Scottish Building Society. Her experience across the finance sector and working with housing associations means she brings strong experience and expertise to the board.”

Sheila moved into the finance sector after being appointed to Ignis Asset Management and was a non-executive director of Airdrie Savings Bank.

As well as taking up other non-executive appointments, Sheila is currently a member of the Independent Governance Committees of both Phoenix Life and Standard Life, a member of the Accounts Commission and Chair of Wheatley Solutions

Sheila is also on the board of the Chartered Banker Institute and on the Ethics Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

In addition to providing counsel to boards of leading UK companies, Sheila has experience working within the housing sector, having served for the last five years on the board of Wheatley, which is Scotland’s leading housing and property management group and the UK’s biggest developer of homes for social rent.