The appointment of Astigarraga is the result of a search and selection process carried out with the advice of US recruitment firm Spencer Stuart.

He will assume leadership of the administrative arm tasked with building a "new CONMEBOL", adopting the measures implemented in its new constitution on September 14 in Peru’s capital Lima.

Astigarraga has more than 25 years of management experience at leading companies and global reach in the areas of financial auditing, telecommunications and media.

During his career, he has led processes of organisational restructuring, opened new markets and optimised operations and financial results of high-end companies.

CONMEBOL has been ravaged by corruption scandals in recent years with the election of Paraguay’s Alejandro Dominguez in January seen as a fresh opportunity for the organisation.

Dominguez's compatriot and predecessor as President, Juan Angel Napout, was one of 16 people charged in connection with a major bribery racket related to the marketing and broadcasting rights of tournaments and matches, and has since been extradited to the United States.

The two previous Presidents - another Paraguayan in Nicolás Leoz and Uruguay's Eugenio Figueredo - have been indicted by the US Department of Justice. 

Argentinians Jose Luis Meiszner and Eduardo Deluca, the past two CONMEBOL secretary generals, were included in the indictments.

"It is with great personal satisfaction that today I joined the purpose of building a new CONMEBOL," said Astigarraga.

"I have always been passionate about football and I am proud to have the opportunity to contribute a lifetime of experience and professional knowledge for transparency and shielding the management of its resources, optimise the operational performance of the institution and generate more value every day to reinvest in its development."

Dominguez added: "One of the cornerstones of change of the new CONMEBOL is building an institution that is corporate, professional and modern.

"That starts with the design of an organisational structure and the formation of a team to respond to the competitive needs of CONMEBOL within the context of the global sports industry.

"Mr. José Astigarraga has a proven track record in senior management in various sectors and will contribute his expertise in auditing processes and corporate transformation to ensure transparency of the institution."

Another appointment confirmed by CONMEBOL is that of lawyer Monserrat Jimenez as deputy secretary general.

Jimenez will also continue to fulfil her responsibilities as general counsel.

In May, former CONMEBOL vice-presidents Luis Bedoya and Sergio Jadue were banned for life by the FIFA Ethics Committee. 

Colombian Bedoya and Jadue of Chile both pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy in the US as part of the ongoing corruption investigation which has tarnished the reputation of world football’s governing body.

Another former vice-president, Rafael Esquivel, was extradited to the US in March to face bribery charges.