Who Is Nick Ayers? Mike Pence Replaces Chief Of Staff With 'Most Hated Campaign Operative In America'

Vice President Mike Pence made his first major staff shakeup Thursday when he announced that he would replace longtime associate Josh Pitcock with the young and reviled campaign operative Nick Ayers as his chief of staff, according to a report by The New York Times.

"I am pleased to welcome Nick Ayers to the Office of the Vice President," Pence said in a statement. "During my years as Governor, then as a candidate and serving as Vice President, I have come to appreciate Nick's friendship, keen intellect and integrity and I couldn't be more excited to have him come to the White House as my Chief of Staff," the statement continued.

CNN's Jim Acosta tweeted Tuesday that Ayers was seen for the first time around the White House.

Ayers, 34, has worked as one of Pence's top advisers since he was tapped by Trump as his Vice Presidential candidate. He was one of four leading figures in America First Policies, a pro-Trump nonprofit organization founded in January 2017.

The young conservative upstart has a history of rubbing other political operatives the wrong way. In 2011, Daily Caller contributor Matt Lewis wrote that Ayers was the "most hated" campaign operative in America.

READ: Who Is Richard Cullen? Pence's Lawyer Linked To Watergate And Iran-Contra Deal

The reason for the hatred was, according to Lewis, due to his rise to national recognition at such a young age. At the age of 24, Ayers was the Republican Governors Association youngest executive director and he then went on to help run Republican Governor from Minnesota Tim Pawlenty’s failed 2012 presidential campaign.

"If Mitt Romney was the most hated candidate among his 2008 GOP peers, Nick Ayers is probably the most hated among the political operative set — and for many of the same reasons: His self-promotion is utterly transparent — and his early successes have made him a target of jealous contemporaries," wrote Lewis.

Ayers has worked for Vice President Pence for three years and was the chief political strategist for Pence, then the governor of Indiana, when President Trump chose the governor as his running mate.

READ: Al Franken Says Mike Pence Is A ‘Zealot’ Who ‘Would Be Worse’ Than Trump On Domestic Policy

Ayers will replace Josh Pitcock after the July recess ends, starting Aug. 1. Pitcock worked with Pence for twelve years. He was Pence's chief of staff when the Vice President was a member of Congress, ran the DC Office when he was Governor and was Pence's senior advisor during the presidential campaign and transition.

"I will always be grateful for the foundation Josh laid in the office of the vice president and wish him every success in his future endeavors," Pence said in the statement. "He will remain one of my most trusted advisors and cherished friends."

Ayer's organization, America First Policies launched offensives against GOP representatives that don't back President Trump's legislative agendas. The organization launched a $1 million ad campaign Tuesday targeting Nevada Gop Rep. Dean Heller who planned to vote ‘No’ for the American Health Care Act before the vote was pushed back, according to Politico.