Liberals are clearly hoping to break the bad news cycle that has enveloped their party.

Last Friday, Stéphane Dion proudly proclaimed that Marc Garneau, the Quebec star candidate who walked away from the party was back. Today, Liberals are boasting about their choice for a new national director for the Liberal Party.

Greg Fergus is being hailed by party faithfuls as a consensus builder with strong leadership skills. Just what the party needs right now, they say. Someone who will inspire the troops and rally them to get ready for a possible election.

So who is Greg Fergus exactly?

He's held roles both in the grassroots of the party and as paid staff. A former president of the Young Liberals of Canada, vice-president for publicity and communications are two of the positions he has held. He also worked closely with former Liberal cabinet minister Pierre Pettigrew.

Fergus is fluently bilingual and described as someone with a firm grasp of Quebec politics — a province where the Liberals are sliding in public opinion polls. Friends say he is a high energy guy, getting up to jog every morning at 5:30, and that he is an immensely positive person.

Another trait that must have helped Fergus secure the job: he apparently has been unquestioningly loyal to every leader of the party throughout the years, something Stéphane Dion, who has faced private griping from his caucus members, now badly needs.

And that makes it all the more interesting to note who Mr. Fergus supported in the Liberal leadership race last year: Bob Rae.

But Liberals say that's ancient history, referring to it as the "now over leadership contest." Not so ancient history though, the circumstances that lead to Fergus' appointment.

He replaces Jamie Carroll, who earlier this month was forced out of his position after making controversial remarks about the need for more francophone employees at Liberal party headquarters. With his knowledge of Quebec politics, supporters are confident Fergus won't make the same mistake. And hope this is the beginning of a better news cycle for the Liberals.