BILL Murray, chief executive of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, is to retire in October.
Mr Murray, who was awarded an OBE in 1996, has run the Middlesbrough trust since April 1992. His decision to step down will be announced at today's meeting of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust.
During his time at the top, Mr Murray has overseen an unprecedented period of growth.
Builders are well on the way to completing a £139m revamp of the James Cook University Hospital site, in Middlesbrough.
In 1993, he was awarded one of the first Sir Duncan Nichol Leadership awards. He was elected chairman of the Northern and Yorkshire Trusts chief executives' group in 1996, a post he held up to 2000.
Last year, Teesside University made Mr Murray an honorary doctor of science.
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