The 58-year-old has led Australia at every Winter Olympics since Nagano 1998 but Tokyo 2020 will be the first time he has carried out the role at the Summer Games.

The appointment of Chesterman, vice-president of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), follows the decision of Kitty Chiller to step down after Rio 2016. 

Chesterman received the unanimous support of the AOC Executive Board chaired by President John Coates at a meeting in Sydney today. 

"I would like to thank John Coates and the AOC Executive for entrusting me with this role," Chesterman, managing director of Sportcom Pty Ltd, a communications and events company he founded in 1988, said.

"I know it’s a big job and I am excited to be involved. 

"It's a very exciting time for Australian sport. 

"Three Olympic Games in Asia – South Korea in 2018, Japan in 2020 and then China in 2022 – represents a huge opportunity for us."

Chesterman was general manager of Australia's team at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer.

He was then appointed Chef de Mission for Nagano 1998 and has subsequently carried out the role at Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014.

Chesterman is due to again lead the team at Pyeongchang 2018. 

"Tokyo will put on an exceptional Games," he said.

"My first Games as Chef de Mission in Nagano in 1998 were brilliant. 

"Japan did a wonderful job then and I'm sure will do so again." 

In his role in winter sports in Australia, Chesterman has helped oversee steady improvement in a range of disciplines, including winning their first gold medals in 2002 at Salt Lake City when Steven Bradbury came first in the 1,000 metres in the short track speed skating and freestyle skier Alisa Camplin took victory in the women's aerials.

"Ian has long played a key role in the successful preparation of our Olympic winter teams and we are excited to have him on board for the Tokyo 2020 Games," said Coates.

"He has been a constant positive presence amongst Australian winter sports for over two decades, helping to oversee the growth and development of our winter athletes. 

"We are confident he will be able to replicate the positive structures and leadership he has put in place for winter sports into the summer Chef de Mission position and in turn give our athletes the best opportunity to thrive."

Chesterman is confident his vast experience with winter Olympic athletes will be transferrable to the summer team.

"The focus for me has always been, and will always be, on the athletes," he said.

"It doesn't matter whether they are in a ski suit or a swim suit. 

"Our challenge is how do we give every team member the best chance to produce their best performance on the day that matters most to them.

"It’s the same challenge we face for our winter team, and while the Tokyo team is obviously bigger with a more diverse range of sports, if we can achieve that goal Australia will have a very good Games.

"I've got great faith that we are growing outstanding young Australians and I'm in awe of the way this generation see their world. 

"We will encourage that positive outlook and empower them to pursue their best.

"As someone who has been involved in winter sports for a long time, I have watched and learned from summer sports across the years.

"I know there is so much talent in the summer sports, from athletes to coaches to administrators, and I am looking forward to working with them to together create the environment which allows their sports to flourish on the Olympic stage.

"That's the job for our leadership team and it's a challenge we will embrace."

Chiller was faced with several challenges at Rio 2016, particularly in the Athletes' Village, which was not finished when Australia first arrived.

She has taken up a new advisory role with the AOC which will include helping Chesterman.

"Having pride in representing Australia on a world stage is in our DNA, Kitty Chiller and her team did a great job reinforcing that going into Rio and that legacy remains," he added.

"In the meantime, we’ve got an excellent team together working towards success in Pyeongchang in February next year.

"I'm sure the Olympic spirit is strong and Australians will back our athletes, first in Pyeongchang and then in Tokyo."