Ramsay Health Care has announced that Chris Rex plans to retire this year after nine years as managing director and chief executive as it delivered a 13.8 per cent rise in interim net profit to $255.9 million.
The company said it had a "comprehensive" CEO succession process under way. Mr Rex would continue to lead the company in the meantime.
Ramsay chairman Michael Siddle paid tribute to Mr Rex, saying he had been instrumental to the company's success.
"During his time as CEO, Ramsay has become one of the largest health care companies in the world, operating 220 hospitals and facilities across six countries, and is a market leader in France as well as Australia," he said in a statement to the ASX on Thursday morning.
"He will leave us with a strong and robust company with an experienced and proven management team."
Ramsay shares fell 3 per cent on Wednesday. The company will pay a fully franked divided of 53 cents.
Revenue for the December half rose 3.4 per cent to $4.3 billion and core earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation jumped 7 per cent to $648.9 million.
Ramsay will pay an interim dividend of 53¢ a share.
