Nutt replaces Loughnane as Liberal boss

The Liberal Party has appointed a veteran strategist to take it to the 2016 federal election.

Tony Nutt was unanimously chosen by the party's federal executive on Friday to replace Brian Loughnane, who is retiring after 12 years in the role.

Liberal Party president Richard Alston said Mr Nutt, currently the party's NSW state director, had served in an unprecedented number of positions across the party over 35 years.

"I look forward to working with him as we prepare for the coming federal election," Mr Alston said in a statement.

Mr Nutt, a chief of staff to former prime minister John Howard, was a key figure in Mike Baird's NSW state election victory earlier this year.

He began his role with the West Australian division as a research assistant and has served as director of the WA, South Australian, Victorian and NSW divisions.

More recently he's been part of Malcolm Turnbull's prime ministerial transition team.

Mr Howard once wrote of his former adviser: "Tony Nutt is the most gifted professional employee of the Liberal Party anywhere in Australia.".

Mr Nutt will start his new role once he finalises his current commitments.