She will act as independent chair of Croydon Council Urban Regeneration Vehicle, a joint venture between the council and Laing plc.

McGivern said: “I am delighted to receive the opportunity to play a role in this unique partnership that allows me to work with both public and private sectors for the benefit of the local Croydon community.

“Building on the success it has achieved already with Bernard Weatherill House and the Waddon leisure and housing scheme, CCURV is looking at numerous council owned sites across the borough in order to establish what regeneration benefits can be achieved through their delivery.

“I will be drawing on my skills and experience to help the project reach its targets and goals.”

McGivern’s experience includes leading Anschutz Entertainment Group in its acquisition of the Millennium Dome and its subsequent redevelopment as the O2.

She also holds other non-executive board positions for One Housing Group, Wokingham Enterprise and more recently for the board of the London Legacy Development Corporation.

The property partnership was the first of its local asset based vehicle to be established in the country and involves the investment of land by Croydon Council, with John Laing investing equity and providing development expertise.