MICHAEL Matheson has been announced as Health Secretary in Humza Yousaf’s new-look Cabinet.
The former Cabinet secretary for net zero, energy and transport was one of Yousaf's early backers during the SNP leadership contest.
Matheson will be taking over from the new First Minister himself, occupying one of the toughest jobs in Scottish politics.
He will primarily be tasked with bolstering a struggling NHS.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new Health Secretary.
Who is Michael Matheson?
Matheson was born in Glasgow in 1970 and went to St John Bosco Secondary School.
He then studied occupational therapy at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh.
Prior to becoming an MSP, Matheson practised as a community occupational therapist with Stirling Council, Central Regional Council, and Highland Regional Council.
He is married to his wife Susan and has three sons. Away from politics, Matheson is a keen mountaineer, which has taken him to the Western Himalayas.
What positions has he held since going into politics?
Matheson was elected as the MSP for Falkirk West following the May 2007 elections.
Matheson has been vice-convener of the European and External Relations Committee. He also sat on the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee, and previously served on the Justice and Enterprise and Culture Committees.
The Scottish Government veteran was cabinet secretary for justice from 2014 to 2018 and minister for public health from 2011 to 2014.
In a 2018 reshuffle, he was appointed to the new post of cabinet secretary of transport, infrastructure and connectivity.
The office was then retitled as the Cabinet secretary for net zero, energy and transport in 2021 as part of the Sturgeon government's efforts to tackle the climate emergency.
