John Harwood, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council, has announced that he will be taking early retirement from his post at the end of September 2003, a year before his contract was due to end.

According to this week's Times Educational Supplement, there is more to Harwood's resignation than meets the eye, with an alleged clash of management styles and disagreements with ministers and LSC chair Bryan Sanderson. Apparently government ministers have been pressing for a different strategic approach, with the new National Skills Strategy due to launch in June.

Announcing his plans, Harwood said: "I am proud to have played a part in establishing the LSC, bringing together the new post-16 sector and setting its overall direction. I came to the job with strong views about that direction and I shall look forward to continuing to participate in this debate in the future....We have now seen a massive increase in the resources available to the sector. They are certainly needed. The task is to use them to best effect over the next ten years. I have always said that in doing this what is most needed is stability and consistency of purpose. I hope therefore later this year to be able to hand over to someone younger who can bring these qualities."