Former British Labour Party spokesman Mr David Hill will succeed Mr Alastair Campbell as chief of communications for Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr Blair's office said today after Mr Campbell announced his resignation.
The premier's Downing Street office said Mr Hill, who works in public relations, would "operate within a new structure" Mr Blair would establish for official communications.
It gave no immediate details on the new structure, and no firm start date for Mr Hill.
Mr Hill (55) was chief media spokesman for Mr Blair's Labour Party from 1993 to 1998, and has since run a London public relations firm. He directed Labour's media operations during the highly successful 1997 and 2001 general election campaigns.
A less controversial figure than the pugnacious Mr Campbell, Mr Hill was widely tipped as successor after Mr Campbell announced plans to quit this afternoon.
PA