Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble has announced a major reshuffle of his ministerial team in the Northern Ireland executive.
He also rejected claims he is poised to quit his position next month, saying: "I have absolutely no intention of standing down".
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UUP leader Mr David Trimble
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Mr Trimble must submit himself for re-election at a meeting of his party's ruling council in Belfast on March 9th. Anti-Good Friday Agreement UUP members have yet to signal their intentions to mount a fresh attempt to unseat him.
The UUP leader announced that Mr Sam Foster is stepping down as the party's environment minister, to be replaced by Mr Dermot Nesbitt.
Mr Nesbitt, current junior minister in the department, is a former university lecturer and close adviser to Mr Trimble during the peace talks.
The switch also means North Antrim MLA Mr James Leslie has been appointed a junior minister. He will now quit his role as a member of the Policing Board.
Sir John Gorman, the UUP deputy speaker in the Assembly, is expected to retire from the post. The party's chief whip, Mr Jim Wilson, is set to take over, subject to approval from other MLAs.
Mr Ivan Davis, a Lagan Valley member of the Assembly, would then be appointed chief whip, according to sources.
Additional reporting by PA