Tshering Tobgay was elected to lead the People's Democratic Party in Bhutan during its convention on May 19, 2012. He served as the leader of the opposition party in the National Assembly of Bhutan from 2008 to 2013, and as prime minister from 2013 to 2018.

Tobgay was a civil servant before he joined active politics, beginning his career in 1991 with the Technical and Vocational Education Section under the Department of Education. In 1998 he established and headed the erstwhile National Technical Training Authority, and he served as a director in the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources from 2003 to 2007.

As a civil servant, Tobgay improved and expanded vocational education and training in the country. He also founded and managed the Education Staff Welfare Scheme, and the Thimphu Youth Centre. And he served in various boards including the Youth Development Fund, Council for Higher Education and the University of Bhutan.

Tobgay was the first official to resign from the civil service to take part in active politics. He was responsible for establishing the People's Democratic Party as Bhutan's first registered political party. He has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's in public administration from Harvard University. He is married to Tashi Doma and has two children. He enjoys volunteering, reading, trekking, bicycling, jogging, archery, yoga, music and drama.