She will be employed by AWI initially as a consultant to review the global marketing strategy at AWI, incoming AWI chairman Wal Merriman said yesterday.

Ms McGahan was controversially left out of the AWI management team when it took over the Woolmark Company last year.

Despite widespread grower support for her wool promotion work, Mrs McGahan left The Woolmark Company a year ago “by mutual agreement”, when the grower-owned marketing body merged with Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).

The former Coles-Myer executive had headed up the $US6.6 million test marketing program (TMP) in the US last year.

It reportedly attracted unusually broad industry backing and funding, impressing the big name New York department stores involved.

At the time, the Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association and NSW Farmers' Association both recognised the 'invaluable contribution' that Brenda McGahan had made to the reinvigoration of wool marketing and promotion.

Earlier this year, there was speculation that Brenda McGahan would be asked to stand as a candidate in this month's AWI board elections in Perth, which resulted in the board upheaval and a new-look AWI board.

But in August it was reported on FarmOnline that she had ruled herself out.