NASHVILLE (AP) — Brent Leatherwood, the spokesman for the state House Republican Caucus, has been named executive director of the state GOP.

Leatherwood succeeds Adam Nickas, who left to run the Tennessee office of the Jackson, Miss.-based lobbying firm Capitol Resources.

Leatherwood, of Chattanooga, is a former congressional staffer and has worked on several U.S. House and Senate campaigns. He joined the state legislative staff after running Republican Scott DesJarlais' successful campaign to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis in 2010.

State GOP Chairman Chris Devaney said Leatherwood's expertise in both congressional and state legislative issues will be key to the party's efforts heading into the 2014 campaign cycle.

Leatherwood begins his new job at the party in January.