Andrew Altman, who has overseen several regeneration project in US, will be responsible for creating jobs, homes and facilities in east London

Andrew Altman, the man responsible for overseeing a series of regeneration programmes in America, has been named as chief executive of the new 2012 legacy delivery company.

Altman was appointed by the legacy company's new chair Margaret Ford, communities secretary Hazel Blears, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The company was established after the mayor and government agreed to maximise the legacy of the Olympic park site.

Altman's role will include overseeing the creation of thousands of new homes and jobs, world class sporting, educational and cultural facilities, in the largest urban park created in Europe for 150 years.

He has experience in bringing together private and public sectors, after combining the roles of Philadelphia's deputy mayor for planning and economic development and director of commerce, and has also worked as a planning director for Washington DC.

Jowell said: "The Olympic Games are the opening act for the regeneration of east London, and the stage is already being made ready at the Olympic park.”

Johnson added: "Transforming this area in the east of London, first into an Olympic park and then into a thriving new district of London, is one of the biggest ever single regeneration projects seen in Europe.

“To meet this huge challenge requires a big hitter and I believe that, in Andrew, we are getting a big hitter with his impressive record in leading and delivering huge development and regeneration projects in some of the largest cities in the US."

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