Alex Salmond MSP
Alex Salmond was born in Linlithgow in 1954. He attended Linlithgow Academy before studying at St Andrews University, where he graduated with a joint honours MA in Economics and History.
In 1978 he entered the Government Economic Service as an Assistant Economist in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. In 1980 he joined the Royal Bank of Scotland where he worked for seven years: first as an Assistant Economist before being appointed Energy Economist in 1982, and from 1984 Royal Bank Economist. Mr Salmond is now a visiting Professor of Economics at Strathclyde University.
He was first elected as MP for Banff and Buchan in 1987 and was elected as National Convener for the Scottish National Party in 1990. He served as leader of the opposition in the Scottish Parliament when he was elected MSP for Banff and Buchan Constituency in 1999. He stood down as SNP National Convener in 2000 and left the Scottish Parliament in 2001. He has served as MP for Banff and Buchan at Westminster since 1987 and was leader of the SNP's Westminster MPs from 2001 to 2007.
He was re-elected as National Convener of the party in 2004 and MSP for the Gordon Constituency in May 2007. After the election Mr Salmond was elected First Minister of the Scottish Parliament in May 2007. He and his wife Moira married in 1981 and live in Strichen in Aberdeenshire.
When not working he enjoys horse racing, football - supporting Scotland and Heart of Midlothian FC - golf and reading.