Manny Lewis, who has held senior positions within Watford Borough Council and Essex Partnership University Foundation NHS Trust, joins the CAA to provide independent advice.

His role, which will last for three years, will work alongside the safety and audit non-executive director to provide “the skills and bandwidth” for the CAA’s board to grow into areas such as space, artificial intelligence and change management.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said he believed Lewis would “bring fresh perspectives and invaluable insights” to the regulator, given his experience in the public sector and local government.

Lewis said he was delighted to be joining the CAA at a time of “rapid technological change” and with “significant environmental and social challenges across the aviation and aerospace sector”.

CAA chair, Sir Stephen Hillier, added: “To be successful, we need not only specialist aerospace expertise, but also a wide and diverse range of other perspectives and experiences. 

“Manny will help bring that to the board’s discussions and decisions and I’m delighted to welcome him to the Civil Aviation Authority.”