Simon Hamilton (born 17 March 1977) is a Northern Irish businessman, consultant and former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician. Hamilton served as the Economy Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2016, until its collapse in January 2017.[2][3]He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Strangford from 2007 to 2019.
Simon Hamilton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Economy Minister of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 26 January 2017 | |
| First Minister | Arlene Foster |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Bell |
| Succeeded by | Diane Dodds (2020) |
| Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety | |
| In office 11 May 2015 – 6 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Wells |
| Succeeded by | Michelle O'Neill |
| Minister of Finance and Personnel | |
| In office 29 July 2013 – 11 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Sammy Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Arlene Foster |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford | |
| In office 7 March 2007 – 2 September 2019 | |
| Preceded by | George Ennis |
| Succeeded by | Harry Harvey[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 March 1977 Newtownards, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party (until 2019) |
| Spouse | Nicki |
| Children | Lewis Kyle |
| Residence(s) | Comber, Northern Ireland |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Website | Official website |
Education
Hamilton was educated at Regent House School and Queen's University, Belfast holding degrees in history/politics and law.[4] He served as Chairman of the Queen's Unionist Association and as a member of Queen's University Senate.
Career
Hamilton began his career as an auditor with an accountancy firm in Belfast[4] and was employed as a DUP Policy Officer in their Party Headquarters from 2003 until his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007.[5] He was elected to Ards Borough Council in 2005 but did not stand at the 2011 Election. Hamilton was secretary of Strangford DUP Association and vice-chairman of Newtownards DUP Branch.
He was appointed minister of finance and personnel and replaced Sammy Wilson on 29 June 2013 in a reshuffle.[5][6]
He was later appointed as the Health Minister of Northern Ireland in a further DUP reshuffle on 11 May 2015.[7] He resigned from this post several times during September and October 2015 in the context of a political crisis at Stormont.[2][8]
In June 2019, Hamilton announced he was standing down from front line politics to become CEO of Belfast Chamber of Commerce. He also resigned from the DUP to take this role.[9]