Procter is the first in a number of high-profile signings expected at the magazine, said to be influenced by Conde Nast's Lucky, which is to be launched with a multimillion-pound television campaign in early 2005.
Procter will take on the title of editorial consultant at the new fashion magazine, which will compete with Vogue.
The publishers are currently talking to agencies about a pitch while advertising is currently held in-house.
Stan Myerson, Northern & Shell's group joint managing director, said: "We are very excited to have Jane heading up this launch. We are thoroughly committed to this project, and the fact that we have signed someone of Jane's stature shows just how committed we are.
"We will soon be presenting our plans to clients and agencies, where we will also outline our editorial approach. We look forward to working closely with our trading partners."
Procter edited Tatler for nine years before being replaced in 1999 by Geordie Greig.
She later joined celebrity gossip and entertainment website Peoplenews, which was backed by Scotsman editor Andrew Neil, as editorial director. However, she was later sacked from this role.
According to the owner of Peoplenews.com, Reading Room at the time, she was sacked on the grounds of "engaging in activities incompatible with her position as editorial director". Procter's solicitors said that she had been subject to "workplace bullying".
An article in the Daily Mail in 1999, with the headline 'Who knifed the Purely Queen', accused Procter of being a social climber, a name dropper and a snob. Procter later sued Associated Newspapers for libel.
B Happy is the second title Northern & Shell is looking at launching; in August it announced that the publisher's Express Newspapers division was considering a men's weekly title, possibly using the name KO!
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