The Chief Executive of Ervia, which is responsible for Irish Water, has announced that he will step down from the position in May of next year.
Michael McNicholas was appointed Group CEO of Ervia in May 2013.
He has over 30 years' experience in the Irish and international energy industry and also held the position of CEO at NTR and worked with the ESB for over 20 years.
Eirvia was formerly known as Bord Gáis Éireann and is a commercial semi-State company with responsibility for the delivery of gas and water infrastructure and services in Ireland.
It employs over 1,300 people around the country.
Bord Gáis Energy was sold to Centrica in 2014 and as part of the sale the Bord Gáis name transferred to the new owners.
As a result Bord Gáis Éireann was renamed Ervia in June 2014.
Ervia said its board will now begin the process of seeking a suitable candidate to succeed Mr McNicholas.
Chairman of Ervia Tony Keohane said: "We very much regret losing someone of his calibre from our organisation.
"Michael has played a key role in the establishment of Ervia and has led the company through its complex and demanding evolution from its origins as Bord Gáis Éireann," he added.
Mr McNicholas said the decision to leave Ervia was not "an easy one", but it was for "purely personal" reasons.
He added that while his time at the company "has been very challenging, it has also been very rewarding".
Mr McNicholas will have served for four years as Ervia Group CEO in May 2017.
