Scotland's new first minister, Jack McConnell, has sacked four cabinet ministers in a reshuffle of his executive team.

Announcing his team, the first minister said: "I am creating the right team for that job. It is a team of great talents and puts the right people in the right jobs. It will be a united team that will reinvigorate our work on behalf of all Scotland."

In a more sweeping set of top-level changes than predicted, key McConnell supporters were rewarded and would-be leadership rivals brought on board.

Solicitor general Neil Davidson has resigned, to be replaced with Elish Angiolini. She is not a member of the Labour Party, and will be the first woman in the job.

After calling for an audit of Scotland's health strategy, McConnell has removed Susan Deacon, replacing her with his "nearly-ran" leadership rival Malcolm Chisholm in the key health post.

Another would-be rival for Scotland's Labour crown, Wendy Alexander, remains in an expanded enterprise, transport, and lifelong learning post following "amicable" weekend talks with McConnell. The inclusion of the transport portfolio in Alexander's ministry followed the sacking of previous transport minister Sarah Boyack.

Andy Kerr, who headed up McConnell's leadership campaign, replaces former McLeish loyalist Angus MacKay. Patricia Ferguson takes the fixer role of chief whip and minister for parliamentary business from another McLeish loyalist, Tom McCabe.

A newly created cabinet role for a combined minister for tourism, culture and sport goes to Mike Watson and former deputy minister Iain Gray steps up into sacked Jackie Baillie's social justice job.

Deputy Labour leader, Cathy Jamieson, takes on McConnell's former role as minister for education and Ross Finnie stays as minister for the environment and rural development

"These are the right people at the right time for Scotland. I believe my new cabinet will make a real difference in the priorities we have outlined. They will be a disciplined and focussed team delivering for the people of Scotland," said McConnell.

Dogged by an often vicious "whispering campaign" against him, the new first minister has moved to assure Scotland that his will be "a united executive" and he has made "it clear to every minister that the behind-the-hands whispering campaigns will not be tolerated".

The deputy ministers are:

• Deputy minister for justice - Richard Simpson.

• Deputy minister for education and young people - Nicol Stephen.

• Deputy minister for enterprise, transport and lifelong learning - Lewis Macdonald.

• Deputy minister for environment and rural development - Allan Wilson.

• Deputy minister for tourism, culture and sport - Elaine Murray.

• Deputy minister for social justice - Margaret Curran.

• Deputy minister for finance and public services - Peter Peacock.

• Deputy ministers for health and community care - Hugh Henry and Mary Mulligan.

• Deputy minister for parliamentary business - Euan Robson.

News of the reshuffle came after McConnell was officially sworn in as Scotland's first minister. He took the oath of allegiance in front of Lord Cullen, the Lord President, and other senior judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

The ceremony confirmed him as first minister and Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.

It meant McConnell immediately took over the reigns of power from Jim Wallace, the Scottish Lib Dem leader and deputy first minister, who has been acting-first minister since the resignation of McLeish on November 8.

The swearing-in ceremony followed a meeting with the Queen on Monday, where he received the royal warrant.

McConnell was nominated as the parliament's choice for first minister in a vote last Thursday

He defeated rival bids from the SNP's John Swinney, Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie and Independent MSP Dennis Canavan with the votes of Labour's coalition partners, the Scottish Liberal Democrats.