The son of the London Marathon co-founder has been appointed as the race’s future director.

Sportswear retailer and marathon-runner Hugh Brasher has been named as the successor to current London Marathon race director Dave Bedford in what will be a two-year hand-over process.

Brasher, the son of race co-founder Chris Brasher, will take up the post of race deputy director in January 2011, advancing to co-director in 2012 and finally assuming the position of sole director in 2013.

Bedford said that Brasher, who has run the Marathon four times, owns running retail chain Brasher Leisure and has been organising running road races for the past ten years, “was head and shoulders above the other applicants”.

Last year the London Marathon raised £50.6m for charities.