THE TV guru behind hit dramas including Bad Girls, Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road will oversee the opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games, as well as the cultural programme around the event.
Eileen Gallagher will also oversee the baton relay, the Commonwealth Games's equivalent of the Olympic Torch, as it makes its way through all 71 member nations.
Ms Gallagher, whose company Shed became one of the most successful independent production companies in UK broadcasting, was brought onto the 2014 board last year by chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin to strengthen its connections to the broadcasting industry, ahead of the signing of a host broadcaster,
Organisers of Glasgow 2014 said the steering group Ms Gallagher will head will be tasked with setting the tone on all three strands under one "coordinated approach".
The opening ceremony is on July 23, 2014, at Celtic Park. The Games officially get under way when the Queen's baton relay arrives and a message from the monarch is read to athletes.
Glasgow's relay will visit all 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth and travel throughout Scotland.
Glasgow Life, the body which runs Glasgow's museums, libraries and sports facilities, will work on the cultural programme with the organising committee, building on the experience of managing the flag handover ceremony at Delhi 2010.
A worldwide search for a creative team to lead the production of the ceremonies will be launched in the coming weeks.
Ms Gallagher said: "This is an outstanding opportunity to create a cultural programme and opening and closing ceremonies which will live long in the memory.
"While we will look to the world for the best creative talent, we will also be working with both local and national government and other bodies from across Scotland to ensure the ceremonies are truly representative of all the talents this proud nation lays claim to.
"The model for Delhi 2010 was hugely successful and we're confident that the games partners have the experience and passion to deliver a fantastic cultural programme around the games – and spectacular opening and closing ceremonies."
Lord Smith said: "In less than three years, all eyes will be on Glasgow and this is a unique opportunity for us to showcase the city and Scotland to both the Commonwealth and the world.
"In Eileen we have the creative skills, vision and drive to oversee the creation of breathtaking events that will not only generate excitement about Glasgow 2014 at home and abroad but will ensure a memorable experience of the Games and Scotland."
Sport Minister Shona Robison said: "The steering group led by Eileen Gallagher has an important role to play in ensuring the delivery of a memorable cultural programme across the whole of Scotland. This will complement a sporting spectacle that I am sure will be remembered for years to come."
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