The 56-year-old joins them from Birmingham City Council, where he had been responsible for projects including the Big City Plan, the £193 million Library of Birmingham and the £600 million plans for New Street Station.

Dutton said: "There are very few jobs in the world that would have enticed me away from Birmingham, a city I genuinely love, but the draw of helping to shape the country’s Olympic legacy was one I simply could not turn down.

"I want to help ensure Newham maximises opportunities created by the 2012 Games, Crossrail, London City Airport and Stratford International Station, and am looking forward to the challenge of making the sort of lasting difference to that area that the Council’s work in Birmingham is currently making.

"While I will be sad to leave Birmingham, I believe the momentum of the regeneration programme we have established in recent years will continue into the future, and I will take a keen interest in seeing them brought to fruition."

Last week, Dutton won Property Week’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Regeneration in the West Midlands’ award at the 2009 Property Week Midlands awards.

Newham Council’s chief executive Joe Duckworth said: "Nowhere else in the UK is undergoing transformation on the scale of Newham - and it is not just about hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

"Our Borough has huge potential for investment, growth and greater prosperity with an abundance of land for development, excellent transport links and a young, energetic and increasingly skilled workforce.

"For Newham the only way is up and we are delighted to have someone of Clive’s calibre joining us."

He is due to begin his new role at the beginning of October.