Craddock will leave the post in April next year, and while at Darlington Building Society, he oversaw the growth of its assets from £612m to £1bn.
Windle joins from West Brom Building Society, where he was chief customer officer for two-and-a-half years during a period in which the mutual delivered record mortgage lending.
He also previously worked at Cumberland Building Society, most recently as chief transformation officer, and has experience at BP, LG Electronics and Vodafone.
Rachel Court, chair of Darlington Building Society, said: “The society has achieved fantastic results over the last few years, thanks in large part to Andrew’s exceptional leadership.
“The recent milestones of reaching £1bn in asset size and donating a cumulative £1m from the society’s profits to local community causes under our 5% pledge are a real testament to his success.
The changing role of the Bank of Mum and Dad
Sponsored by Aldermore
“Whilst Andrew will remain at the helm until the next annual general meeting in April, I look forward to welcoming Alex as our new CEO in what will be the society’s 170th year.
“Alex is an inspirational leader with a wealth of experience in leading the customer and commercial agendas in successful societies, and his experience suits him ideally to leading the Darlington into the next phase of our strategic development.”
Windle (pictured) added: “I am thrilled to be joining a business that is so strong and well-positioned in the North East, where it has built an enviable reputation for great customer care, being a first-class employer, and for its support of local communities.
“Looking forward, it is vital that we offer our customers choice in the ways they want to be served. I am committed to giving customers choice, and I look forward to working with the team to build on the strong physical presence the society has in the region, while capitalising on the recent investment in technology to develop a bigger and more meaningful digital service.
“Darlington Building Society has been a force for good for almost 170 years and my aim is to build on the strong foundations that have been laid, so that we can help more people achieve their dream of homeownership and save for the future.”
His appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
