Chartered surveyor and North West property expert Karen Hirst has been appointed to lead the delivery of the Old Trafford regeneration project in Greater Manchester.
Hirst enters as project director and will drive the delivery of the multimillion pound revamp for the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation, the group behind the works.
The MDC was approved by Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority in September following a recommendation by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. It still needs Parliamentary approval.
As well as driving forward the regeneration works, it will be responsible for attracting public and private sector investment to "accelerate transformational regeneration, creating a world-class, sports-led visitor destination, rich in culture and entertainment".
Manchester United Football Club, one of the partners of the project, announced plans in March to build a new stadium next to its historic Old Trafford home, with the plans for the circa 100,000-seater arena valued at around £2 billion.
Hirst will work alongside chair designate Sebastian Coe. The group said in a statement: "Karen will be responsible for delivering the strategic vision for Old Trafford Regeneration, developing and implementing a business plan to make it happen."
"She will work alongside local authority staff to progress the transformation, and in partnership with strategic landowners and developers, such as Manchester United," it added.
Hirst was most recently managing director of Maple Grove Developments, overseeing major commercial projects in the North West, including industrial, logistics and town centre regeneration.
She has also been a group board director of Eric Wright Group, and development director at both Salford City Council and Central Salford Regeneration Company, during her 35 years in property and development. She is also a non-executive director of Regenda Group.
Burnham said in a statement: "Trafford’s ambitious regeneration plans have a major role to play in bringing good growth to all parts of Greater Manchester, and I have every confidence that Karen will use her expertise and determination to help deliver on that mission.
"The impact of our Mayoral Development Corporations is there to see across the city region. With our devolved powers we’re building new homes, creating new skilled jobs, and doing it in a way that joins up new development with the infrastructure to support it."
Hirst added: "I am excited to be taking on this new role and I am looking forward to working with Lord Coe, the teams at GMCA, Trafford Council, Manchester United FC and other key partners, stakeholders and local residents.
"After working in both the private and public sector, I know that ambitious regeneration projects such as Old Trafford Regeneration are challenging and will require many parties and people to make it a success."