Former Governor Tim Pawlenty’s exploratory committee announced Monday that political strategist Nick Ayers will head the team’s presidential campaign.

During the 2010 election, Ayers was the executive director of the Republican Governors Association, a group that helped the party claim a majority of state governors’ offices across the country.

As Governor of Minnesota, Pawlenty worked with Ayers who was vice chairman of the RGA at the time.

After moving to Minneapolis, where the campaign is headquartered, Ayers will start work as campaign manager on April 25.