Airline hit by row over strategy
Andy Harrison has quit as ceo of easyJet.
He will leave in June next year after serving four years with the low cost carrier.
easyJet said his successor will be selected "in due course".
Mr Harrison, 52 is the sixth member of the airline's board to leave in the past year during which there has been a long running dispute between some directors and the airline's founder and major shareholder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
The row is over the strategic development of Europe's second largest low cost carrier, specifically over the number of new planes which should be bought.
Sir Stelios, whose company and family own 38% of easyJet shares, wanted the airline to cut its order for new planes.
Despite the row, easyJet has ordered more planes and its fleet will grow to 212 by 2012.
During the row both the chairman, Sir Colin Chandler and the chief financial officer Jeff Carr left the company.
Three other senior executives, the commercial director, the communications directors and the procurement director have also since left.
Mr Harrison is also understood to have threatened to resign when Mr Carr left in May.
easyJet admitted in its statement last night that it had paid him a "retention agreement to ensure his presence as Chief Executive through to at least the first quarter of 2010".
In the statement easyJet said Mr Harrison was now leaving "in order to seek new challenges".
It added: "Accordingly, the Board has agreed with Andy that he will remain in his current role until 30 June 2010 when it is anticipated he will step down from the Board and leave the Company.
"The terms of Andy's employment have been amended to include an appropriate retention arrangement to enable a smooth transition and he will be working closely with the Board to ensure this."
easyJet also announced that Sir David Michels, a former ceo of Hilton International, who took over as interim chairman from Sir Colin will also stand down.
The new chairman Sir Michael Rake, chairman of BT and easyJet's senior independent director, will take over on January 1, 2010.
Sir David will stay on the board as its senior independent director.
Mr Harrison joined the airline from the motoring club the RAC in 2005.
He said in his statement: "easyJet is a great company with a strong management team and I am sure under Mike's Chairmanship, easyJet will continue to grow from strength to strength.
"I am looking forward to being part of the process of selecting my successor and am committed to ensuring a smooth transition.
"I have loved being a part of easyJet's success but am now looking forward to moving on to a new challenge."
www.easyjet.com