THE chief executive of Addenbrooke’s Hospital has resigned.

Dr Gareth Goodier will leave the hospital in June for Australia after nearly six years in the job.

He will become chief executive of Melbourne Health, a major health provider in Victoria, Australia.

“I’ve been here for six years and always said I’d return to Australia because that’s where my children live,” he said.

“The right job came up and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to return to my family and life-long friends in Australia.”

Dr Goodier worked around the world before coming to Cambridge.

He added: “I will of course be sad to leave Cambridge. Working at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has been the pinnacle of my career and I will forever be proud to be associated with such a great place.”

Dr Mary Archer, chairman of CUH, said the group were very sad to see him go.

“With his background as a doctor Gareth made sure our focus was always on clinical excellence and providing our patients with consistently high-quality, safe and kind care,” she said.

A spokesman for the hospital said the process for recruiting a replacement and to appoint an interim chief executive will start immediately.