Sir Robin, who headed the Department for Media, Culture and Sport as permanent secretary between 1998 and 2001 and the Department for Trade and Industry from 2001 to 2005, will serve alongside fellow chair Ed Warner.

It follows a raft of problems within the Committee in recent months, and suggests that the British Government now plans to take a far closer role in proceedings. 

Four new non-executive directors have also been appointed, all with a wealth of experience in the sports world.

Managing director Sally Bolton stepped aside earlier this year along with fellow Board members Heather Hancock and Martin Stewart after allegations of a power battle with UK Athletics chair Warner and chief executive Neils de Vos.

It was thought that conflict of interest claims had arisen with Warner and De Vos also working at UK Athletics, as chairman and chief executive respectively.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympic gold medallist, resigned from the Board as she felt her role was "tokenistic".

Cherry Alexander has replaced Bolton as managing director, but concerns remain over the lack of sponsors for the event, due to take place from August 4 to 13.

At present, the Government would have to shoulder a larger proportion of the cost, with commerical progress therefore likely to be at the heart of the new appointments.

"I am excited to be joining the Board of London 2017 to support the Championship preparations," said Sir Robin.

"Great sporting events have a huge impact on the national psyche and this will be the case again next year when London hosts two back-to-back Athletics World Championships.

"We saw in London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 how the public embrace athletics championships and this will be a phenomenal event in a superb venue.

"I am looking forward to working with Ed Warner and the rest of the 2017 Board to ensure we stage a successful summer of world athletics.

The four new non-executive directors have been appointed in order to add "strategic oversight" to London’s delivery of the World Athletics Championships, a statement explained.

These include David Armstrong, the group chief executive for Wasps Rugby Club who will serve as Audit Committee Chair, and Simon Bazalgette, group chief executive of The Jockey Club, which organises leading horse racing events such as the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival.

He will serve as senior independent director.

They will be joined by Liz McMahon, managing director of Madison Muir Group London who has previously served as director of marketing services at the International Olympic Committee and the head of international marketing on the winning bid for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Her current Board roles include being part of the Sport and Recreation Alliance as well as chairing the England Board of the Sport Safeguarding Partnership.

The line-up will be completed by Arsenal Football Club chief commercial officer Vinai Venkatesham.

"I am delighted that we have attracted such excellent non-executive directors," added Warner.

"This is a Board that can take strategic decisions in an atmosphere of collaboration behind the clear common goal of staging the best-ever World Championships."

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