A former National Party Cabinet Minister has been named as the next Chairman of state owned enterprise Transpower.

Former Minister of Health Tony Ryall has been appointed to the position by Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Todd McClay today.

Mr Ryall has been serving as a director on Transpower's board and will take up its chairmanship in November.

Mr McClay said the former politicians is a proven leader and has the knowledge of the regulatory, economic, and political environment in which Transpower operates.