His appointment will be announced officially this week. The Barclay brothers have been talking to the 54-year-old industry veteran for some time, according to reports.
MacLennan has been the group managing director of Associated for 10 years. He is a newspaper executive with a large amount of industry experience.
As the chief executive of the Telegraph Group he will put a cost-cutting programme in motion as the Barclays look to make savings across The Daily and Sunday Telegraph.
MacLennan's appointment is thought to be the first of a number of significant changes at the Telegraph Group, with many expecting Martin Newland to be replaced as the editor of The Daily Telegraph.
An Associated source told the Sunday Times: "We are sorry to lose him, but we are not surprised the Telegraph has come calling because of the talent that was at the group. There is more new talent coming through."
It was rumoured that Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay would appoint Andrew Neil, the editor-in-chief of The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and The Business, their new chief executive. However, it now appears there will be no role at the Telegraph for the former editor of The Sunday Times.
Before joining Associated, MacLennan held senior roles at Mirror Group Newspapers and Express Newspapers.
He began his career with Thomson Regional Newspapers as a graduate trainee and in 1982 he joined the Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail as production director. He moved to Express Newspapers in 1985 as production and technical director and then managing director, Harmsworth Quays, in 1989.
He returned to Mirror Group in 1992 as group operations director and then became managing director of the Scottish titles before joining Associated.
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