Liz Nicholl, the director of elite sport at UK Sport, has been appointed the organisation's chief operating officer, while Peter Keen, performance advisor, has been promoted to the role of performance director.

The changes are part of a strategic review of UK Sport's operations, which aims to ensure the organization uses "existing resources to maximum effect" in its efforts to achieve its performance ambitions.

Nicholl will now be responsible for UK Sport’s overall investment, governance and operational relationships with national governing bodies and other sports partners.

Following the departure of international director John Scott last year, she is also taking responsibility for the World Class Events programme, as part of efforts to bring it inline with the wider performance strategy.

Peter Keen will now lead work supporting the active delivery of Mission 2012 and UK Sport’s performance ambitions, including the Performance Advisor team and delivery of performance programmes around the likes of talent ID, research and development and CPD within the system.

John Steele, chief executive of UK Sport, said: “The changes are part of UK Sport ensuring that we are organised in such a way that best utilises our team and resources in what is an increasingly challenging environment. In this way, we can best support athletes and coaches leading up to 2012."