LAWYER John Heaps will become chairman of Bradford-based Yorkshire Building Society next April.

He will succeed Ed Anderson who is retiring form the board at the annual general meeting after seven years as chairman.

Mr Heaps (pictured), a former chairman of corporate law firm Eversheds, has been named as YBS chairman designate.

He served on Evershed’s board from 2008 until earlier this year and before was a member of the senior management team from 1999. As chairman he contributed significantly to the development of the firm’s long term strategy and helped drive change as it grew from its UK base into a major international law firm.

Since standing down as chairman, he has continued his role as a litigation partner and will remain with the firm until April 2015.

John is a member of the Business and Oversight Board of the Law Society, serves on the Risk and Audit and Constitutional Committees of the International Bar Association.

Lynne Charlesworth, YBS vice chairman, paid tribute to Ed Anderson for his leadership through the recession and as the business expanded through mergers and acquisitions.

She said: “I am delighted that John has accepted the role of chairman.

He has the experience and skills required to chair the board of a large organisation operating in a highly regulated industry. This, combined with his proven track record for innovation and successful strategic leadership, makes him the ideal candidate to take the Society forward”

The YBS Group has 231 branches, 97 agencies and assets of £35.9 billion. It employs around 4,500 staff and has 3.4 million customers