SWINDON-BASED building society Nationwide’s top boss was crowned the most people-focused chief executive at an awards ceremony last week.

On June 30 Graham Beale, CEO of Nationwide Building Society, which is based in Piper’s Way, was given the accolade in recognition of the organisation’s focus on customers and employees.

Graham was put forward for the award after Nationwide was ranked sixth in Best Companies’ 100 Best Big Companies to Work For list, announced earlier this year.

Nine private sector CEOs were selected based on employee feedback, taking into account leadership criteria such as inspiration and confidence in the person leading the organisation, and ability to build strong management teams.

The society’s continued focus on its customers and employees was at the heart of Graham’s win and after receiving the award, he said: “I’m delighted to receive this award.

“Organisations are only ever as strong as their people and our 17,000 employees and the culture they engender make Nationwide a very strong and people-focused organisation indeed.

“Our approach of doing the right thing by our employees and the 14 million members who own Nationwide is as true today as it was when we were founded almost 170 years ago and awards like this go to show how valued this is.

“I’d like to thank every single person who has helped Nationwide be the strong, trusted and values-driven organisation it is today.”

Graham has been Nationwide’s CEO for eight years, during which he has steered the organisation through some challenging times, particularly for the financial services industry, where Nationwide’s continued focus on the needs of its members and doing the right thing meant it remained a safe and trusted financial organisation.

He has taken a personal interest in driving many of the issues which make Nationwide an exemplar employer.

Alongside championing the consumer causes that matter to Nationwide’s members, such as Stamp Duty reforms and increasing ISA limits, Graham has also led the society in becoming a living wage employer and encouraging other organisations to do the same by becoming the Living Wage Foundation’s first high street principal partner.