John Swinney has announced he will stand down as a Scottish Government minister after almost 16 years.
The Deputy First Minister is an SNP veteran and led the party from 2000-2004 before serving in a variety of Cabinet positions following the Nationalists' breakthrough election victory in 2007.
The MSP had previously announced he would not enter the race to become the next SNP leader after Sturgeon confirmed last month she was standing down.
In a letter to the First Minister published today, Swinney said it had been an "honour to serve Scotland" and that he had always sought "to transform the life chances of everyone".
In her reply, Sturgeon paid tribute to Swinney’s "deep care and attention to the wellbeing of our nation" and said she could not have wished for a better "partner in government".
Swinney will remain an MSP and will formally exit the government once a successor to Sturgeon has been appointed by the end of the month.
He is the longest-serving Deputy First Minister in the devolution era - having been appointed in 2014 - and has recently served as interim finance secretary while Kate Forbes was on maternity leave.
In his resignation letter, he said: "It has been the privilege of my life to serve in the Scottish Government since 2007 as a Cabinet Secretary with responsibility first for Finance and the Economy, then Education and Skills and finally Covid Recovery.
"It has been my honour to serve Scotland as your Deputy First Minister since 2014.
"These have been demanding commitments to fulfil over nearly 16 years and I have decided that, when the First Minister is appointed later in March, I will stand down from government.
"When I joined the Scottish National Party at the age of 15 in 1979, our political prospects were poor and I could scarcely have imagined that over so many years I would have the opportunity to serve Scotland in government in the way I have.
"In all that I have undertaken in government, I have tried to listen carefully to different views and be open to the ideas and thoughts of people in Scotland. I have sought always to transform the life chances of everyone who lives here.
"I have acted to make Scotland a fairer, more prosperous and more confident country that I believe would be assured with Independence."
He added: "I will continue to faithfully represent my constituents in Perthshire North and look forward to sitting with you on the back benches of the Scottish Parliament to continue our contribution to Scotland’s cause."
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
