Gannon, who is currently the chief executive of UK Coaching, became interested in boccia when he started his career as a physical education teacher.

"We are delighted that Mark will be joining the Board and we are looking forward to working closely with him to build on the fantastic work that the trustees and staff have achieved to date so we can further improve our reach and impact," said Chris Ratcliffe, chief executive of Boccia England.

Gannon has previously held roles at Youth Sport Trust and British Gymnastics.

"I am delighted to be joining a great team who look after boccia in England," said Gannon.

"Boccia can be played by everyone, but it also has the power to truly change the lives of people with physical disabilities.

Gannon is set to formally take over from Walker in January 2022 and will be directly involved in the finalisation of Boccia England's new strategic plan.

"I am delighted that I will be able to hand over the reins to Mark to ensure that Boccia England continues to grow in its reach and influence over the next few years and beyond," said Walker.

"I am grateful to the staff and my board colleagues who have supported me during my tenure.

"I leave knowing that we have a strong governance structure in place with a clear direction for our new 10-year strategy and I will be collaborating closely with Mark over the next few months to ensure there is a smooth transition into the role."