British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday named Rishi Sunak, son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy to be his new finance minister, after Sajid Javid sensationally resigned.
Sunak, 39, has a business background and previously served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, effectively Javid’s number two.
Sunak, the MP from Richmond in Yorkshire, will join Home secretary Priti Patel on the top government bench as UK Chancellor of the Exchequer. He will move into No. 11 Downing Street, next door to the Prime Minister’s Office as he takes charge of the second most important government position as the finance minister.
“The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the appointment of Rt Hon Rishi Sunak as Chancellor of the Exchequer,” Downing Street said in the official announcement.
The promotion came after Britain’s finance minister Sajid Javid resigned on Thursday, just weeks after Brexit and a month before he was due to deliver the government’s annual budget.
Javid’s spokesperson confirmed he would be leaving just as Prime Minister Boris Johnson carried out the first reshuffle of his cabinet since winning a parliamentary majority in December’s election.