Susanna Dinnage will replace Richard Scudamore as the new Premier League executive chief in 2019.

Scudamore leaves his role after helping the English Premier League become one of the most powerful leagues in the world, including mega money TV deals.

He has brokered record-breaking TV deals for the clubs, currently totalling £2.8  billion in global rights pay packets.

The league’s domestic and overseas TV rights sales are double that of the Bundesliga.

The Premier league has already raised £8.3 billion alone for 2019 to 2022 and could go as high as £9 billion, a 20 per cent uplifton the previous deal.

Club owners and chief executives of the 20 Premier League clubs were told of the appointment this afternoon after being summoned at short notice to the league’s London headquarters.

“We are very pleased to appoint such a capable leader to this important role,” said the Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, who helped oversee the appointment.

“We had a very strong field, but Susanna was the outstanding choice given her track record in managing complex businesses through transformation and digital disruption.

“She is a leading figure in the broadcasting industry, a proven business executive and a great developer of people.

“She is ideally suited to the role and we are confident she will be able to take the Premier League on to new heights.”

Scudamore will step down at the end of 2018 and Dinnage will kick off her reign in early 2019.

Dinnage, now global president at Discovery’s Animal Planet, has spent more than 20 years working in the television industry.

Since joining Discovery in 2009, she served as general manager of the UK and Benelux businesses, and most recently as President of UK/Ireland and Chief Content Officer for Discovery Networks International.

“I am excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role,” she said in a statement.

“The Premier League means so much toso many people. Itrepresents the pinnacle of professional sport and the opportunity to leadsuch a dynamic and inspirational organisation is a great privilege.

“With the support of clubs and the team, I look forward to extending the success of the League for many years to come.”