Baroness Sue Campbell, the former UK Sport chair, has been appointed to oversee the development of women’s football for the Football Association (FA).

Campbell will officially take the title of head of women’s football in March and will be tasked with driving increased participation in girls' and women’s grassroots football and fostering success at the elite levels of the game.

Kelly Simmons, the FA director of participation and development, said the appointment was a “massive statement about the FA’s ambitions for the women’s game and where the game is at”.

“Sue is widely regarded as one of the most influential people in British sport,” she added.

Spending a decade as chair of the elite sport quango between 2003 and 2013, Campbell oversaw a period of success for British athletics which culminated with the London 2012 Olympics in which Team GB came third in the medals table, with 29 gold and 65 overall.

Prior to her stint at UK Sport, Campbell was an advisor to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and was awarded a CBE for her services to sport in 2003.

The former junior international pentathlete and netball player said she was “excited about the opportunity to help shape the future vision and strategy for girls and women’s football”.

“Great strides have already been made both in terms of grassroots participation and at the elite level,” added Campbell. “The growth of the FA Women’s Super League and success of the England Lionesses are testimony to that.”

Campbell will continue in her role as chair of the Youth Sports Trust after taking her FA position. Ali Oliver, the Trust’s chief executive, said she was an “exceptional and transformational leader” and had “made a significant contribution at the highest levels of sport”.

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