NHS Digital Chief Executive Andy Williams has announced to staff he will retire from his role on 31 March 2017.
Andy became CEO of the organisation, formerly known as the Health and Social Care Information Centre, in April 2014. He has enjoyed a long career in industry, holding many senior international roles in major technology companies.
The Secretary of State for Health and the NHS Digital Chairman were informed in October by Andy of his decision to retire and he formally confirmed his news to staff this week.
Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt said: "I want to thank Andy for his leadership of NHS Digital and his tireless commitment to improving the quality of health and social care for patients through the power of data and technology. He has made a decisive contribution to setting the NHS on course to be far better digitally integrated and advanced, and I want to wish him all the best for the future.
Chairman of NHS Digital Noel Gordon said: "NHS Digital has made huge strides during Andy's tenure and he is leaving the organisation stronger, more confident and better equipped to tackle the digital agenda to 2020.
"Our major portfolio to implement personalised health and care by 2020 has benefited from his experience in structuring large change programmes and in building consensus among our many stakeholders in health and care. The NHS Digital Board and Executive team join me in wishing Andy well in his retirement."
Andy Williams said: "Making effective use of information, technology and data across the health and care system is an enormously important endeavour. We now have a strong portfolio of programmes at national and local level that will play their part in helping to change the way health and care is delivered for the benefit of patients and clinicians.
"Whilst this was a very difficult decision for me to make, I'm confident that NHS Digital will successfully deliver the personalised health and care agenda under its new leadership. I also want to thank the Board and my Executive Team for all the support they have given me over the last three years. I've enjoyed my time enormously in this role and between now and the end of March, I want to make sure that I do everything to ensure we deliver against our objectives and that NHS Digital is in good shape for my successor."
Recruitment for a new CEO is now beginning, with public advertisement of the role to follow and the expectation an appointment will be made before Andy's departure.
In the event of recruitment of the right successor taking longer, NHS Digital Chief Operating Officer Rob Shaw will act as interim CEO from 1 April 2017.
ENDS