The former engineering and commerce chief executive and chair will take up the role initially for a two-year period, spanning the London Olympic and Paralympic Games - a crucial phase in the development of shooting in the country.

"This is an important appointment for British Shooting, and a welcome move to strengthen leadership as we approach the once in a lifetime opportunity that is our home Games next year in London," said UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl.

"John Harris is well known to and respected by UK Sport and the UK high performance system and I look forward to working with him in his new position."

Harris is a proven leader and mentor, and has, most recently, led significant change programmes resulting in considerable improvements be it in commercial market share or sporting and personal performance.

British Shooting's acting chief executive Hamish McInnes said: "John will bring a new dynamic to British Shooting at a time of great potential for the sport.

"His appointment heralds a new unity of purpose across the shooting disciplines at just the right time with the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics followed so closely by the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"We now have a great chance to work together to develop the sport, to nurture talent and to achieve success at the highest level."

On his appointment, Harris said: "I feel very privileged to have been asked to join the team especially at this very exciting time."

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