FINE GAEL yesterday announced that political director Gerry Naughton is stepping down after more than five years in the position.
He will be replaced by Michael McLoughlin, chief executive of Amárach Research, who is also a long-time party activist.
Mr Naughton made the decision earlier this summer but agreed to stay on until a replacement could be appointed. He will take up a new position next month as director of communications with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board.
Mr Naughton (51) was the first major strategist to be appointed by Enda Kenny upon becoming leader, when he was named as the party's first political director in December 2002. A former civil servant, he had been Mr Kenny's programme manager when he was minister for trade and tourism in 1994.
During a 20-year career in the civil service, he had also been private secretary to a number of ministers including John Kelly, Frank Cluskey, Des O'Malley, Pádraig Flynn and John Bruton.
He was also programme manager for Charlie McCreevy for two years prior to Mr Kenny becoming minister.
Before taking up his position with Fine Gael, Mr Naughton had worked with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Mr McLoughlin is from Dublin and holds an MBA. He joined Amárach from AIB. A party activist since 1982, he stood as a candidate in the local elections in 2004.
The Fine Gael leader said he was delighted with Mr McLoughlin's appointment.
