Labour leader David Shearer has appointed his former press secretary Fran Mold as his chief of staff in an attempt to tighten up the political management of his office for election year.
Fran Mold will replace Alastair Cameron who resigned from the role just over a year after he was appointed. Mr Shearer said through a spokesman that Mr Cameron had left by his own choice and Ms Mold had agreed to take on the role, despite quitting as chief press secretary earlier this year to move to Auckland with her partner.
"This is about Labour moving on to a campaign footing ahead of election year."
Mr Cameron, a lawyer and friend of deputy leader Grant Robertson, was a relative newcomer to politics when he was appointed by Mr Shearer last year and was regarded more as an administrator in the role than a political operative and vital adviser.
It is understood Mr Shearer had been looking for a suitable political adviser for some time, and asked Mold to return because of concerns Labour was struggling with its political management since her departure.
