Mitchell, 53, will report to Thames Tideway Tunnel chairman Sir Neville Simms. His main task will be to lead the development of a new company responsible for the financing and delivery of the landmark project.

The process for the procurement of this new company is already in motion, following the issue of a preliminary notice to the market earlier this month.

In March 2014, the Planning Inspectorate is due to conclude a six-month examination of an application for approval of construction work at 24 sites, from Acton in west London to Stratford in the east.

Ministers are scheduled to decide whether or not to accept the inspectors’ recommendation in September 2014.

Invitations to tender for the project’s Eastern and Western construction packages have been issued to the market, with the third and final Central package due to follow in April 2014.

The award of the construction contracts is scheduled for 2015, with the main tunnel works due to begin in 2016, lasting seven years.

Sir Neville Simms, said: “The Thames Tideway Tunnel must continue to showcase all that is best about Britain’s capability to deliver complex civil engineering projects, on time and to budget.

“In Andy, we are privileged to have the services of a highly-skilled individual, who has been instrumental in doing this for Crossrail. His skills and experience are a natural fit for our project. I am personally thrilled to have him on the team.”

Mitchell, said: “Having been closely involved in its establishment at Crossrail, I am particularly looking forward to developing the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy at the Thames Tideway Tunnel, ensuring the country has a ready and available pool of engineers capable of meeting the infrastructure challenges the country faces over the next few decades.”