Sauber have confirmed that Jorg Zander will join the team as their new technical director, as previously reported last week by Grand Prix Times.
Zander currently heads up Audi's World Endurance Championship programme as technical chief, but will vacate that role following the German manufacturer's decision to quit the WEC series at the end of the current season.
He will return to Sauber at the beginning of 2017 after a ten year absence, having worked for them previously between 2006 and 2007 when the team was owned by BMW.
"The new Formula 1 regulations offer a great opportunity to point the way with innovations and technical creativity," commented Zander.
"One of my tasks will be to define a stable and efficient technical organisation that evolves the potential of creativity and, therefore, the basis for the development of successful Formula 1 cars.
"Initially we obviously want to improve and establish ourselves as a team in the midfield. Overall it is a challenge which I await with excitement and enthusiasm."
The role of technical director is currently vacant at Sauber, after Mark Smith left the team unexpectedly at the beginning of the year.
Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn added: "This is a very important step for the implementation of our strategic goals, in order to guide the team into a new and successful era.
"Zander fits well into our team, he has a lot of know-how in Formula 1, as well as in motorsport in general. As technical director he will have the overview as well as the responsibility for all technical departments.
"In our factory in Hinwil he will have the possibilities to work technically at a very high level. We are convinced we will make progress with him. We wish Jorg Zander a good start on his return to Sauber, for which we ensure him our full support."
The team has begun a recent recruitment drive following a takeover by Longbow Finance, which has seen Xevi Pujolar join as head of trackside engineering, Nicolas Hennel de Beaupreau as head of aerodynamics and ex-Ferrari and Haas strategist Ruth Buscombe.
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