Born on June 21, 1958 in the village of Nyaksimvol, Berezovsky District, Tyumen Region. 

Graduated from Kostroma Technology Institute (1980) and the All-Union Correspondence Juridical Institute (1989); PhD in Jurisprudence.

Began his working career in 1980 as a fitter, later was a foreman at the Chelyabinsk Pipe Mill.

1982-1984: head of administration department of the Leninsky District Komsomol Committee of the city of Chelyabinsk.

1984-1990: held party and government jobs in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, Tyumen Region.

1990-1991: head of the State Tax Inspectorate in Kogalym, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area.

1991-1993: Head of the Kogalym City Administration.

1993-1994: First Deputy Head of Administration of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area.

1994-2000: Speaker of the legislature of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, member of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee for Constitutional Legislation, Courts and Law.

2000-2001: First Deputy Presidential Envoy in the Urals Federal District.

2001-2005: Governor of the Tyumen Region.

November 2005: Chief of Staff of the Russian President's Executive Office.

May 12, 2008: Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Chief of the Government Staff.

Holds the Order of Honour and the Order of Service to the Fatherland, 2nd Class.

Married, with two daughters.