Former Housing Minister and onetime BBYO leader Grant Shapps has been named as the new Conservative Party co-chairman.

Mr Shapps was given the post in the Prime Minister's first reshuffle, and will take over from Baroness Warsi, who moves to a ministerial role in the Foreign Office. He will share the role with Lord Feldman, David Cameron's chief fundraiser, who has been serving as co-chairman since 2010.

Elected in 2005 as Welwyn Hatfield MP with a majority of 5,946, after unsuccessfully fighting two elections, Mr Shapps, is a member of Potters Bar and Brookmans Park Synagogue. He attended Watford Grammar School and then Manchester Metropolitan University, and was the president of BBYO.

The father of three told the JC in 2010 that he was not "riven by ambition. "If I left politics tomorrow I wouldn't look back and think 'damn I wish I'd held this role or that role'. I will serve my nation in whatever way I can," he said.

Mr Shapps, in his first move in his new role, changed the details on the Tory chairman Twitter account. He said he was delighted to have been appointed, adding: "Looking forward to working with the team at CCHQ."

His appointment comes despite media speculation about a family business selling software that allegedly helps web advertisers to circumvent Google regulations.