In her role of director of marketing, Dunkley will head up "internal and external communications including message development and delivery processes and co-ordination", according to a statement from party chief executive Chris Fox.
Fox said market research and digital outreach would also be strengthened as a result of the changes. Her first task will be to undertake an audit and review process before developing medium term plans.
In addition to her corporate marketing roles, Dunkley has also lectured at universities, advised organisations and is an expert on increasing engagement with women.
Fox outlined her priorities as delivering:
- Coherent messaging that sets out a Lib Dem position and values pertinent to the current and future needs of the UK population.
- Leadership in developing a distinctive position for the party based on policy objectives and polling and research.
- Clear understanding of the party’s target supporters and the issues and policies that motivate them.
- A range of new and effective communications channels.
Since last year's General Election the party's poll ratings have plummeted after a series of high profile u-turns on policies such as on university fees and party leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has seen his personal popularity plummet.
At the recent local elections the Lib Dems lost hundreds of seats and its hopes of bringing in the alternative vote for parliamentary elections were dashed in a referendum.
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