CV

Educated in Brentwood, Essex, he went on to study politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University before going on to work in businesses in the UK and abroad.

Mr Hammond worked in companies specialising in manufacturing, consultancy, property and oil and gas before standing as an MP.

He held a number of shadow portfolios while the Conservatives were in opposition, including shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

In 2010 he was appointed Secretary of state for Transport before winning the top defence job in 2011. In 2014 Mr Hammond became the Foreign Secretary.

Why was he promoted?

A supporter and long-time friend of Mrs May, Mr Hammond is one of her closes allies in Parliament.

Interesting fact

His old classmate TV presenter Richard Madeley let slip that Mr Hammond was a goth at school. "Used to arrive in class in leather trench-coat with the Guardian under his arm", he tweeted.

Boris Johnson

Age: 52

MP for Henley between 2001 and 2008 and then MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip since 2015