By Steve Holland and Nichola Groom PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) -President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a wealthy former software company executive, will be his pick for interior secretary.

Burgum, 67, grew up in tiny Arthur, North Dakota, population 328. He earned a bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University and his master’s of business administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

The president-elect said during an event Thursday night that he plans to make a "formal" announcement on Friday.

President-elect Donald Trump announced that he plans to select North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as the nominee to be the secretary of the Department of the Interior.

President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be his secretary of Interior, he announced Thursday evening at a gala. Trump teased the pick during a speech at Mar-a-Lago during an America First Policy Institute dinner,

President-elect DonaldTrump on Thursday announced that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) is his choice to lead the Interior Department, an agency responsible for managing 500 million acres of federal land ― roughly one-fifth of the United States — including 63 national parks.

Burgum was a staunch support of President-elect Donald Trump after the governor dropped out of the presidential race.