The news comes little over a month after David Moorcroft stepped down as chief executive of the governing body.

Walker, who has been with UKA for the best part of a decade, is taking up a job at a new British America’s Cup sailing team called Origin launched by Sir Keith, the chief executive of London's successful Olympic bid.

Walker has been instrumental in striking the many sponsorship deals that have characterised its growth since the late Nineties.

 

But he has also been an increasingly unpopular figure with grassroots athletics people, partly due to his involvement in difficult issues such as coach licensing and welfare.

UKA’s new chairman, Ed Warner, said: “I wish Adam the best of luck in future.

 

"We will not be replacing either the role of deputy chief executive or director of development, but the areas will be covered by (incoming chief executive) Niels de Vos and the other heads of departments, who will be able to look afresh at how things are done.”

Walker will continue working at UKA for the next few weeks until he starts his new role, which is part of a team that hopes to bring the America’s Cup back to British shores for the first time since its inception over 150 years ago.