He is Paul Baverstock, a 35-year-old high flying PR chief at Bell Pottinger Communications.

Mr Baverstock will lead the party's media operations from January.

I believe he will make a major contribution towards helping the Conservative Party in our goal of winning the next election Iain Duncan Smith

The former Yale and Harvard student replaces Dominic Cummings, who walked out as director of strategy just weeks before the Conservative party conference.

Mr Baverstock is expected to use his background to bring the Tories a keen understanding of American political campaigning and communications techniques.

Tory election candidate

Mr Duncan Smith said: "I am delighted that Paul Baverstock has decided to join Conservative Central Office as director of strategic communications.

"He has a brilliant track record in corporate communications and a strong political pedigree and understanding of the Conservative Party.

"I believe he will make a major contribution towards helping the Conservative Party in our goal of winning the next election."

A Conservative member, Mr Baverstock stood for election in the Labour safe seat of Huddersfield in 2001, taking second place.

He joined Bell Pottinger four years ago and has worked for a number of blue-chip clients.

Mr Baverstock was involved in the launch of the YouGov internet polling organisation.

Mr Cummings had only been director of strategy for eight months when he quit in September, stressing that he wanted to pursue "other things outside politics".