Guy Parsons, chief executive of hotel chain Travelodge, is to join the board of Bradford-based Yorkshire Building Society as a non-executive director.

Mr Parsons, 49, has more than 20 years experience of director-level roles with major UK companies including eight years with Travelodge, where he was sales and marketing director before being made managing director and then chief executive.

He will join the board of the UK’s second-largest building society on May 1.

Ed Anderson, YBS chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Guy on to the board. He has an excellent set of marketing and business skills and a huge amount of experience in defining and shaping major brands. I look forward to working with him.”

During his time as Travelodge chief, Mr Parsons has overseen a 20 per cent increase in the number of hotels in the chain, including the £3.5 million 69-bed-room hotel in Valley Road, near Forster Square Retail Park, which opened last year.