Harrington leaves her role as the group operations director of the English Football Association (FA) to take over from Ian Drake, who left his position in January.

She faces the task of restoring British Cycling’s reputation, recently been described as being "in tatters" by British Parliamentary Select Committee chairman Damian Collins.

The under-fire governing body is the subject of an ongoing UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) investigation regarding a "mystery package" delivered for cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné.

Harrington’s appointment also comes just days after British Cycling chairman Jonathan Browning said the organisation "failed" athletes on its world-class performance programme after accusations of sexism and bullying led to an independent review.

The review was initiated last year following former technical director Shane Sutton's resignation from his role amid accusations of sexual discrimination against track athlete Jess Varnish.

Harrington is currently responsible for running both Wembley Stadium and St George's Park for the FA, in addition to women's and development team games away from Wembley.

She has almost 15 years' experience in senior leadership roles in sport.

Harrington is due to take up new role at British Cycling in May. 

"I am thrilled to be asked to lead British Cycling as it embarks on a new chapter in its history," she said.

"This is the right time to be joining one of this country’s leading governing bodies.

"British Cycling already has a fantastic track record of using elite success to inspire millions of people to get active by getting on their bikes and is now setting its sights on new ambitions and a new way of working."

Harrington, also a non-executive director of the British Horseracing Authority, joined the FA in 2011 as managing director of St George's Park.

She was tasked with the final stage of construction and launch of a £100 million ($123 million/€116 million) elite training centre, home to England’s 24 teams, and was also responsible for developing the strategy for the centre and its commercial performance against its business plan.

Prior to working for the FA, Harrington spent nine years with the Northern Racing Group as operations director and also worked in senior marketing roles for blue-chip leisure organisations such as British Airways, Whitbread, Carlsberg-Tetley and Allied Domecq. 

Commenting on her appointment, Browning, said: "In appointing Julie, I am delighted that we have found someone with exactly the right mix of skills to lead British Cycling as we embark on a period of significant change.

"Julie has substantial experience at the top level of sport and I am confident that she will excel in what is a landmark and exciting appointment for British Cycling.

"Her background in sport and commercial partnerships will prove vital in delivering our joint vision with HSBC UK to make cycling the number one sport and activity of choice in Britain.

"I am confident she will help us achieve our goal of becoming a world class governing body."

Led by Annamarie Phelps, the chairman of British Rowing and vice-chair of the British Olympic Association, the independent review of British Cycling was launched last April to look at any lessons the National Federation could learn.

A draft report was provided to UK Sport and British Cycling at the end of December and the findings and key recommendations were expected to be revealed last month, before it was delayed.

In a joint statement released last week, UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl claimed "valuable lessons" had already been learned from the process, while Browning vowed to improve the behaviour within its world-class programme, which has delivered huge success for Great Britain at the Olympic Games.

Revelations in the separate UKAD investigation, saying former Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman received the "mystery package" on behalf of Sir Bradley on the last day of the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné, were made in front of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee last week.

The Committee also heard from UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead, who revealed there were no records kept of the package.

Nicholl has described the findings, which plunged British Cycling further into crisis, as "shocking" and "unacceptable".

Sutton, who quit in April, allegedly told Varnish, who is no longer a part of the programme, to "go have a baby" and was accused of referring to Para-cyclists as "wobblies".

A British Cycling investigation concluded in October that Sutton had used "inappropriate and discriminatory language" towards sprinter Varnish, but another eight claims were dismissed.