HSE boss Paul Reid said he will be stepping down as the chief executive officer "with a heavy heart".
Mr Reid said he will be giving up the role of CEO of the Health Service Executive in December to spend time with his family. He said he had no immediate career plans.
Mr Reid said: "It's with a heavy heart that I've advised the Chairman of the HSE and the Minister for Health that I will step down as CEO later this year. Having led teams in the private, not-for-profit, central and local government and health sectors, I now want to spend some time with my family."