Brighton & Hove Albion have appointed what is believed to be their first woman director.

Michelle Walder has joined the club’s board as a non-executive director.

She is CEO and co-founder of global leadership and business consultancy experts TXG.

She has wide experience in strategic HR policy matters and also in senior level people development.

In addition to her attendance at the club's board meetings, Ms Walder will become chair of the club’s new women’s football subsidiary (a requirement for membership of Women's Super League), and will also chair the club’s HR committee, which, among other matters, considers policy and remuneration.

Albion chairman Tony Bloom said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Michelle to our board. We are all looking forward to working with her as we further develop our club.

"Michelle has a terrific pedigree in her specific field, and someone of her calibre will offer a brand new and invaluable set of skills to complement the existing members of the board.

“Michelle is a keen football fan and in recent seasons has also been a regular at Kenilworth Road with her Luton Town-supporting partner."

Ms Walder co-founded TXG in 2004 to deliver bespoke leadership effectiveness projects for clients all over the world.

She began her career in the financial sector at Societe Generale, before subsequent roles at Commerzbank, Nomura International and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, where she eventually specialised in leadership and development.

Ms Walder has a postgraduate diploma in Law and a BA (Hons) degree in Modern Languages.