Mike Clasper, the former chief executive at BAA, who left the airport operator with a £10 million package, has been made chairman at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Mr Clasper, currently operational managing director at Terra Firma, the UK private firm run by Guy Hands, will take up the three day a week post from August 1 this year and will have a key role in appointing the HMRC's first ever chief executive.

The chairman at the HMRC also oversees corporate governance and Mr Clasper will be paid in line with a permanent secretary salary scale of between £139,740 and £273,250.

Mr Clasper left BAA in 2006 when it was acquired by Spain's Ferrovial with a pay,pension and share package worth £10 million.

As well as working at Terra Firma, where he advised on the takeover of EMI, the music group, Mr Clasper is currently a non-executive Director at ITV and chair of the West London Consortium.

Mr Clasper joined BAA as its deputy chief executive in 2001 and was appointed chief executive in 2003.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said: "Appointing someone of Mike's calibre and experience is particularly important at this point in HMRC's development and I am delighted he has agreed to take on the role."

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