Tomlin, the human resources director for London 2012, will replace Anna Ford, a former BBC newsreader, in the £75,000 ($122,000/€92,000) per year role.

The 57-year-old, who was born in Jamaica, had started her career graduate trainee with the Ford Motor Company, working in personnel.

Her other previous roles have included being the group human resources director at Marks & Spencer, human resources director of Egg and sales and operations director of Prudential Direct.

"We're delighted to welcome Jean to our Board," said David Tyler, the chairman of Sainsbury's, who was a Tier One sponsor of the London 2012 Paralympics.

"Her unique experience and breadth of skills will be a great addition to the Board and we particularly look forward to her leadership of the Corporate Responsibility Committee which contributes significantly to the success of Sainsbury's."

As well as her experience in human resources, Tomlin has also held a number of non-executive roles during her career.

She has served on the Board of the Greenwich Healthcare Trust and the Student Loans Company, and has been a Commissioner for Judicial Appointments and a member of both the Qualifications and Curriculum Advisory Board and the Race Relations Advisory Group.

As the head of human resources at London 2012 she oversaw the creation and execution of the Games Maker volunteering programme.

"Sainsbury's has an outstanding reputation and - with 22 million customers and 150,000 colleagues - touches so many areas of day-to-day life," said Tomlin.

""I very much look forward to playing my part in the company's future progress."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]