Sir Hugh Robertson,  a former Foreign Office minister, has been appointed as the National Lottery operator's first independent chairman since the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan acquired Camelot in 2010.

Robertson is also the chair of the British Olympic Association and previously served as Olympics Minister during the London 2012 Olympics.

"When I heard that Camelot was seeking a new Chairman, I actively sought the role – and am delighted to be joining a business that plays such an important role in today’s society” Robertson said in a statement.

The appointment of Robertson has come after an uneasy period of business where Camelot’s declining ticket sales forced the company to hold an in-depth review of its strategy.

Camelot is also in the process of preparing itself for the fight to hold on to the UK National Lottery license in 2023.

There is speculation that by appointing a former minister Camelot is seeking to strengthen its political ties before the expiration of their license in order to put them in better standing in the coming fight to hold on to it.

Robertson is not the only new member to Camelot’s board; he will also be joined by Robert Walker, chair of Ei Group, which manages a large portfolio of pubs in the UK.

Sky news reported that Sir Patrick Brown and Tony Illsley would step down as independent non-executive directors.